Sonia & Sammie Volunteer Journey to Peru

07/10/2019

Link to the story on the new website for the Carroll paper!

When Sammie Walsh, 17, stopped to tie her shoe while exploring Cusco, Peru, this summer, two women in colorful dresses swarmed her and pressed a baby alpaca into her arms.

04/08/2019

Sammie’s project: I didn’t expect what was to come for the last two weeks. I assumed that my project would be in a school helping kids with their homework. I was surprised to learn that my project took place in a foster home an hour outside of Cuzco. These kids I grew to love, don’t have all the luxuries that most children their age do, but that doesn’t dull their playful spirit. They have so much ahead of them. Saying goodbye to them was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

03/08/2019

I spent the last two nights saying farewell to my classes and we had lots of hugs, cheek kisses and tears...planning to keep in touch with several of these amazing, kind, lovely people. I’m so glad we were in each other’s lives the past two weeks. And pretty much the best feeling was when they would come up say “thank you, teacher” 😍😭

02/08/2019

https://nomadicboys.com/10-interesting-facts-peru-didnt-know/

There are many cultural influences from the Land of the Incas, which we explore in our 10 interesting facts about Peru you didn't know.

02/08/2019

Sammie and I took a cooking class today, it was pretty tasty!!

02/08/2019

On Wednesday we ventured to the San Pedro market which is a giant open air market in a permanent structure with handmade goods and every kind of local food item.
It is loud, hectic, and a definite sensory overload! Not to be missed!!

01/08/2019

Playing catch up again! On Monday we went to Cristo Blanco which overlooks Cusco. Literally meaning “White Jesus”. Then we walked nearby to more Inca ruins. Making new friends, learning, growing...

31/07/2019

Let’s talk about the most nerve wracking thing about traveling - how will I get around once I get there? Especially if I don’t speak the language?
At least, that’s my main concern in planning a trip.

1 - I wouldn’t rent a car here and try to drive if you paid me. They drive like everyone is playing a game of chicken and cutting people off or pulling out in front of people is normal...and expected. If you are crossing the street, in a crosswalk, with the green light, a taxi will get within a couple of inches of you, guaranteed.

2 - we are in a city so we do a lot of walking. I am averaging about 6 miles a day and Sammie even more. Lots of going up stone steps, we are, after all, in the mountains.

3 - we both have to use public transportation to get to our work. Sammie takes two buses, then a taxi, then still walks a mile as her placement is outside the city. She has done this to and from every day. Her trip to work takes 50 minutes.
The United Nations office where I go is closer, I am only on the bus 15-20 minutes.
Figuring out your bus route at first is very overwhelming because bus stops could be a street name. But that would be too easy. Bus stops here are also named after neighborhoods, landmarks, people, or other points of interest.
Riding the bus costs .80 sols which is about 25 cents in American money.
The bus is crazy. Lots of yelling. There is a person who stands in the door for each stop yelling for people to get off and on. Then when the bus leaves the stop they start yelling the name of the next stop. My stop is called “Marcovalle”, to which I have to yell very loudly “Baja!” To let them know I’m getting off at that stop. You pay your fare when you exit, so do it while the bus is approaching or be quick about it when you exit the door. Have close to exact change or you’re going to get a dirty look.

It’s kind of fun once you get the hang of it, and very cheap.
Taking a taxi will cost you cinco sols, which is about $1.53 American. But you need to set a price BEFORE you get in or they’ll hack you on the price, they don’t use meters for your fare.

Now you know how it is getting around in Peru! 🇵🇪

Also, the buses have names. My bus is the green one. Two other favorites are the Batman bus and the Túpac bus 🚌

30/07/2019

We arrived the night before, had a nice dinner with fun girls from our tour group and our guide. We have made so many awesome friends on this trip!
We were up at 4:30am to be ready to leave for Machu Picchu.
When we arrived it was dawn and everything was covered in such thick fog you couldn’t see anything. We took two hikes, one to the Sun Gate (almost), and one to the Inca Bridge. By the time we got back the sun had finally burned off the fog and it was a picture perfect day to see Machu Picchu, which was truly extraordinary. I’m still amazed by it.

30/07/2019

Saturday we explored the Sacred Valley of the Inca where there are several archeological sites. We specifically stopped at Pisac and Ollantaytambo before finally boarding a train to take to our overnight accommodations near Machu Picchu.

30/07/2019

I’m very behind posting because our days have been jam packed.
Friday afternoon after we played with llamas and alpacas, we did a short tour of Convento de Santo Domingo.
Cusco was the capital of the Incan empire but when the Spanish arrived they burned the Incans religious temple down so this church has the original Inca basement walls and the church on top is a Spanish built structure.
No photos were allowed in most of it so I have more research to do when I get home.

27/07/2019

First of the two most important entries- our volunteer work.
I took the TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) class and am now certified to do this... which I thought I’d come and help locals who want to improve their fluency. Not the case after all.

Our local volunteer office began a pilot program with the United Nations to assist refugees from Venezuela. My co-teacher Flávio (from Brazil) and I are the first two teachers running this program and teaching six classes of refugees.

To say this is both stressful and humbling is an understatement. Some of these folks are just barely getting by...day by day they are in survival mode. Many left incredible careers in Venezuela and are holding jobs now that earn them pennies compared to their previous work.

One woman was a lawyer and now she works in a chocolate shop. Another was a psychologist and now teaches swimming lessons. And another was a civil engineer who now works as a secretary.
One of my favorite fellas was a lawyer and law professor and he works welding now...which does not pay what it does in America. His dream is to become a lawyer again here so he is going back to school.

My youngest student is 11 and his dad is dead, he has to work to help his mom.

A few moms bring their young children. One little guy, about 4, always colors me pictures because I give him paper and markers when class starts to keep him entertained.

I still teach all next week and I can tell you, I will be a mess saying goodbye to them. They are lovely, good folks. They are so earnest and trying so hard. Most of them kiss me on the cheek when they come to class and hug me goodbye. I am falling in love with them, they are adorable.

While I love teaching my students at home, this is an entirely different experience that is important in a whole other way.

I am, already, profoundly changed by it.