Cusco Alumni

March 19, 2005 - Day 1

Only one moment of this day stands out to me. It was when I arrived at the orphanage. The road was muddy, the dogs were scary, and the gates were haunting. We knocked a few times and out came this beautiful person. She put her hand on mine, signaling me to put down my pack. She gave me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Words cant describe the feeling I felt. My entire being was overtaken by this unmistakable love from this child I had never met. That moment was not life changing, but it was defiantly life inspiring. I will never forget that moment, that feeling, or that person, Carlota, who I cant wait to get to know.

Day 2

Today was a fun day. We took a tour of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and churches. The views are amazing. I wish I had more time here. I am looking forward to starting our projects tomorrow. Carlotta is very nice and the food is great.

Day 3

Today was a busy day. We woke up around 7:30 and had breakfast. We spent the morning painting the ceilings of the 2 boys room. Henry and Herman, 2 of the boys hung out with us all morning. We had lunch with Carlotta. We then taught first aid to the older kids. They were very grateful and thanked us with a song and a skit. We then took the kids to the plaza to see the procession of the black Christ. It was very crowded. I noticed how much the kids appreciated human touch and affection. I really like these kids.

Day 4

We all had some sort of lactose intolerance today. Today was also a super busy day. We finished painting one room and half of the other. Some of the kids helped us paint. They loved it. We watched some of the kids play soccer as well.
-- Tejpaul Bhatia , NY , NY

March 20, 2005

Our hostess, Carlotta, was very welcoming. She had us to her apartment for dinner. She seems excited to have us here.

I am looking forward to meeting the kids and getting started. But I am also glad to have some time to explore the city a little and the surrounding areas.

I like being in this area of this Hogar. Its more of a residential area. Most tourists never see this part of Cuzco .

Amazing views of the city from up here. It's great to have the opportunity to see the site in the area. We took a bus tour through the Sacred Valley . I am impressed by the number of people walking on the roads in traditional dress with bundles on their backs.

March 21, 2005

Worked on projects today. We got ceilings painted in 2 rooms and a world map laid out. Two of the boys tried to help, but their arms tired quickly. They enjoyed watching us work though. We also taught a basic health class in the afternoon. The kids had very good questions.

The kids sang to us a Quechua song and made thank you speeches which was very sweet.

This evening we found ourselves at the Holy Monday-Patron Procession, a very important day for Cuzco Queachuans. We took the children with us. Each of the adults or older children was assigned a younger child to keep track of. The Plaza was packed with people - filling the Plaza itself. The cathedral steps, the sidewalks, and the streets were filled.

I am impressed with the kids. They are very polite. They work very hard. Up every morning at 5:30 to clean the Hogar, then eat breakfast before school. I haven't figured out how the home works yet. Some kids are here full time to live and to go to school, others come for school only and home on the weekends. I think others live here but go to school somewhere else. Also school schedules vary. Some go in the mornings others go in the afternoon.

March 22, 2005

We finished painting one room today and half of another. At first I thought that we could get more painting done than just 2 rooms and a world map, but it turns out to be the perfect amount for the number of people that we have (4). The kids and staff would come in and check up on us periodically. The kids would often take a brush or a roller from your hand wanting to help.

This program provides the opportunity to experience a culture from more than just a tourist prospective.

I was surprised to learn that most of these children have families. They are often the youngest of several children in their families and they cant afford to take care of them full time. Maybe this is just a reality of life here, but I imagine that it would be hard for a child to know that his family is nearby and couldn't be with them. It is like a family here though, the children are all supportive of each other.
-- Kristen Oreskovich, Albuquerque NM

Freddie (Our Guide)
“Mammie. I think the condor is trying to tell you to fly like home. Fly higher than any bird (without hesitation or excuses). You’re so lucky mammie.
-- Robyn Liston, California

“That truth lies in our baseness, in our needs and right to breath. From our dreams of glowing greatness, to the hatred in those who seethe. And that there’s nothing like a good meal, and there’s nothing like a smile, and there’s nothing like the freedom in the laughter of a child. That a kiss can last a lifetime. Like a book of love poems on a shelf, that is helping hand is the only hand and is beautiful in itself. And if we can be all that we can be, and do it with an open heart, we’ll go farther than the eye can see and maybe leave a mark.” By Peter Morton Coan
-- Robyn Liston, California

Visiting both the daycare and the alternative high school added a very worthy dimension to our tourist visit to Peru. I'm impressed by the HS program, the seriousness the student indicated of their role in changing Peru to the unbelievable dedication of the teachers. We were humbled by the affection of the students and their attention to unannounced "visitors". Jay was most helpful with transportation, introduction, explanations and translations. We hope our small gifts were of us. -- Carolyn Lane

Describe any surprise you learned about the culture you visited.

They was extremely hospitable and polite. The kids were so well behaved. This was an incredible experience. --- Tejpaul Bhatia

Describe any surprise you learned about the culture you visited.

The kids are so warm to strangers; Latin Americans are all very friendly. Great experience, would highly recommend it to others. Looking forward to the next one. Although I've always known how lucky we are in North America compound to places like this, it really hits home when you see it with your own eyes.

Describe any surprise you learned about the culture you visited.

The kids taught me more signs and more Spanish than I had anticipated. I couldn't believe how much the kids helped do things and were proud to do them and enjoying doing them. Just want to say thanks for making this all possible. It has been an amazing life changing experience. I certainly appreciate everyone making me feel so welcomed! I enjoyed working on the Lorena Stove project and helping out with other projects however I could. I visited Cusco before as a tourist, but being part of the Globe Aware project made it possible for me to see a very different side of this special place. --- Jo Link

I found this project to be very meaningful. I think the most important meaningful part of this project was working with the children. It was fun to see relationships grow over the course of the week. It seemed that as I got used to each one, they got used to me. We were able to communicate and understand each other better. I was surprised how well the children communicated and their willingness to teach us. I also truly enjoyed the visit to the ruins and learning Inca culture and Spanish influences. The guides on these trips were so knowledgeable, friendly and enjoyable. The treks were good and doable, and the views were spectacular. This trip was amazing! From making a child smile to seeing the Incas. I would recommend this kind of trip to everyone! Amazing and fulfilling trip! --- Sonya Acedo

I had a wonderful trip. I am very grateful for the hospitality of the Hogar and Maria Christina.This has been one of the most amazing, exciting, and life changing experience in my life. To date our coordinator Anna Q. was the best and the volunteer group was great. And best of all the children and host of the hogar were most loving and gracious to all of us. I hope to be able to help them as long as I can.

Describe any surprise you learned about the culture you visited.

How one simple thing in common with somebody will result in a smile and a friendship. ---Chris Akers

As far as the only volunteer program or organized trip I've been on Globe Aware couldn't have been any better put together or ran. I spent more time with these children and accomplished more for them that I though was possible. I also did more cultural things in one week than I have in a years worth of traveling. --- Chris Akers

It's been a life experience I will never forget. The people of Peru have been so kind and giving. I was extremely grateful for their excellent care. Everyone at the hogar has been so nice and very loving, which made our stay a wonderful experience. ---Jan

I really enjoyed being with the kids and helping them in any way that I could. The kids taught me more that I taught them. --- Ashley Miller

Do you feel your work project was meaningful?

Yes I enjoyed working with all the people and seeing how our actions affected them. --- Chris Visentin

Did this program change how you view your own culture, and if so, how?

I felt a lot more grateful for what I had after seeing how many other people live with less opportunity. --- Chris Visentin

What did you like most on the program?

Being able to see the impact our work had on the children. --- Chris Visentin I never realized how fortunate and lucky I am to have so many opportunities until visiting people who live without all the conveniences that I have come to take for granted.

I thought that building the stoves for the rural family was great, it just allowed us to be mixed in with the people and help them. It gave me a real sense of what it was like to live in the rural villages of Peru. --- Graham Gadenne

Any project ideas you feel we should explore beginning on this program?

Yes a project that's sole purpose would be to help the people in rural villages. They're in so much need of help and it really helps you get a sense of how much help these people in need. ---Graham Gadenne

Anything else you'd like to share with us?

I had a wonderful experience on the trip. I wished I could have contributed more to the community, however the lives I was able to touch, I know will continue to feel the effects for months to come. ---Katheleen Hearn

Do you feel your work project was meaningful?

This trip has been life changing. ---Patty Munoz

Tell us your thoughts about the accommodations?

Everyone here was so warm and inviting and so generous- thank you is not enough! --- Patty Munoz

Describe any surprises you learned about the culture you visited.

The people of Peru are very modest, they value any gesture of kindness. I am in awe of the way characteristics of the Peruvians. ---Patty Munoz

This was an amazing experience- I really appreciate how Carlota, her staff, and the children opened their hearts and home to us. --- Patty Munoz

Defiantly a life changing experience - I still can't get my mind around some of the things we experienced and the way some of the people live. I wish there was more I could do to help the children and their families. I can't express what a wonderful team experience I had. The team was great: hardworking, upbeat, ready to tackle challenges, kind, considerate and many more adjectives could be used to describe each of them.

July 16, 2005

Today was another BEAUTIFUL day in Cusco. We started the day by touching up the painting job in the main classroom, removing pain splotches from the floor, cleaning the windows, and then helping the students move the desk, blackboards, and other classroom furniture back into the room. Everyone had a feeling of pride and accomplishment in a job well done. The students seemed delighted, and a group picture was taken in celebration. After breakfast, we sand and varnished wood for a new handrail, dug holes for a new fence enclosing the outside garbage area, and then set post and built the fence. New garbage cans were put in place and filled with the trash strewn on the ground. Sealant was added to the wood in preparation for painting later in the week. In the early evening, we enjoyed a delightful English teaching session with the students. In a small group, we taught conversational English, then combined into larger groups to play games in English. The evening concluded with learning Quechua numbers and playing games in Quechua, much to the delight and amusement of the students. It was a wonderful and memorable session. --Anonymous

July 16, 2005

Most of the group had bounced back from the adjustment to the altitude and we were ready a dia hermoa. After a breakfast of bread and jam, we headed out of the central plaza, Plaza de Armas. We were able to walk through the enormous cathedral as mass was going on and also watch a military presentation of the Flags of Peru and Cusco. It is a beautiful square. We then headed back to the school and rolled up our sleeves for a productive day of sanding, patching, and painting the children’s classroom. Everyone worked together and the work went quickly. We decided to head down to the stadium to see if we could still get soccer tickets to the championship game. Sadly, the game was all sold out, but we had a good time buying jerseys from the sellers and seeing all of the festivities. We headed home for more patching and painting of the classroom. It was fun to work together and everyone committed to the effort. Later, the children returned from their homes in the mountains and greeted us. It was exciting to meet them and see their shining eyes and begin to learn names and ages.
A few of us went with the children to mass and were able to observe the packed cathedral. The children were very quite and attentive during worship.
Before dinner, the group of gringos headed downtown to the supermercado to check out the scene and buy some essentials. Dinner was delicious as usual and we felt more connected as a group and to the school. --Anonymous

July 16, 2005

This day was set aside for shopping with the children of Albuque. After breakfast we all piled into a minivan/bus and went to an area called Molina. It was a maze of vendors selling everything from food to leather jackets. Divided up into boys and girls groups and went about trying to find the things on their wish list. For girls jeans and jean jackets, socks, and underwear, for the boys, mostly sweat suits, jersey jump suits, socks, and underwear.
All of the kids were very pleased, thanked us in traditional cheek kiss. (very appreciative kids) We returned to the Alberque for a late lunch, a bit of playing around in the back yard, jumping rope, and playing with the new volleyball.
After lunch and playing around we went with the older (colegio) kids for a shopping spree. For them, who mostly wanted shoes, we went to an area called San Pacho. We were successful in getting their wishes met as well, shoes, pants, underwear, and socks. These children are incredibly gracious in receiving gifts.
After dinner we all gathered on the 2nd floor for a grand fiesta. All of the children were donning their new threads and they all shared their talents dancing and singing for us. We were the honored guest and at the end of the festivity we were each given our own personal card made by the children thanking us for what we had done for the alberque and the personal gifts. These purchases were really the doings of Brad and Sergio who had raised almost $2000.00 at a birthday party fundraiser. They also purchased a refrigerator and made some changes in the safety of the cooking stove.
Adam, our coordinator, has been wonderful. He has a real passion for these kids and they all love him. The kids wanted to celebrate Segio’s birthday again and a cake was brought out to share.
The traditional cake in the face event took place and then we all hugged and said our fare wells as the children would all be leaving in the morning. It was a very special evening for all. --Anonymous

July 6, 2005

Today we went high up into the mountains to Erika's house. We packed the bus and hiked up the hills. Beautiful views, but it would drive me crazy to live there. Very, very, very quite and nothing to do but farm. Amazing how they farm on the hills. In the evening we had a party at the Alburque. The children were so happy and festive. We gave them toys, nail polish, and clothes. They sang and danced for us. We were so so tires, but we hung in there. I am sure Adam is exhausted as well, he worked very hard to day, as I noticed every day. --Anonymous

Saturday 7/23/05

This is the last day of the week. We packed up and had breakfast together, our last breakfast.

It had been a very enjoyable week. We gad a wonderful team together.

After the breakfast, some of us will go to town for some shopping, before leaving for the airport. Others prepare to leave for a second week of Peru excursion.

This past week was certainly the most memorable week that I have has for a along time. This past week certainly gave me the life experience that I have never had.

Everyone at the school was wonderful. They all made our stay so comfortable. Everything has been beyond my expectation. The first shocking event was the first lunch that we had. The table was set and the meal was delicious. All the meals were beyond my expectation. Thank you for giving me this life experience. --Trang Chau

8-3-05 Wednesday

Today Brad was not feeling well, so he stayed behind to rest. I and the rest of the group traveled to one of the kid's homes to build a stove. Most of the homes here in Peru are built of clay. The home doesn't have any ventilation so all the smoke from cooking stays in the home. The smoke inside the builds up onto the ceiling, walls, and also in the respiratory. What we did for them was build them a stove, which included a hood wich extends into the roof. Therefore, all the smoke went outside of the home. We got there about 9am and left around 3 or 4 pm . It was exhausting, but now that we would forever change the way they cook and deal with the smoke. We took one picture of the process and finally took our last picture. We went home for a badly needed shower since we were dressed in mud.

When we returned home I found Carlotta there showing me the new stove, plus the newly added kitchen gas line. There is a new bigger tank being installed tomorrow. We will also be providing a refrigerator. We are trying to get them a computer as well, that is if we have enough money. --Sergio

July 2, 2005

The day started with a 7:30 am wake up call and an 8:00am departure for some of the group. Jessi, Trang, Evelyn, and Leanne took a tour of the Sacred Valley all day while the rest of us stayed home. In the morning we painted the kitchen were the food for the children is prepared. When that was done, we took all the kids down a block to two basketball courts where we taught them how to play the sport. Unfortunately, today was the first day that we got rain so the courts were slick. At first many of the kids just stood under overhangs and watched the rest of us play. Bit soon, every single child was playing, rain and all. We played for two hours and then headed home. In the afternoon, my family, Adam, and I went into town and visited an old Inca temple. We were able to see how the original Inca foundations still existed underneath the more recent Spanish development. When we got back home, the tour group was back and we all went out to eat at the interesting Fallen Angel restaurant. The food was delicious and we all crawled into bed satisfied after an eventful day. --Matt Johnson

Do you feel your work project was meaningful? Yes, very. Ana knew all the right places to go and made every second count. I felt that we did more than I had even hoped to do while there as far as helping.

Do you feel you had enough free time? Yes.it was timed wonderfully for accomplishing things, yet seeing Peru intimately along the way.

Did you like the food and did you get enough? Yes.although I really wish I could have brought LOTS of fresh Coca Mate home with me!

Tell us your thoughts about the accommodation and anything you'd like to Change. I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I was.

Did this program change how you view your own culture, and if so, how? Yes.as I had sadly expected, "attitudes" and rudeness are an unnecessary trait in our kids in the states. I did not see evidence of it in Peru. But I am more grateful than ever when I bathe and use the restroom at home.

Describe any surprises you learned about the culture you visited (I.e. can't believe how much kids understand even when I don't sign. There is a kindness in the children's eyes.and when they would kiss us on the cheek and say, "Gracias, Proffe." I felt that they truly meant it. There were puppies at the albergue and they, too, seemed so loving, innocent and precious. But it struck me that the older dogs in Peru, even though particularly adorable, hold a sort of a resigned sadness in their eyes. I seemed to see the same thing in the adults that were very poor. They were so charming to see, yet there was a far-away look of sadness and being worn-out.I don't want the children to feel that way as they age. I wish there was a way to prevent that.

What did you like the most on the program? The party that the children threw for us on the final night.

Did you find the orientation materials meaningful and helpful? Yes. Very Any project ideas you feel we should explore beginning on this If not, what else would you like to have known more about to prepare you That it's very necessary to bring preventative medicine in case of colds or flu, and that silk undies are a MUST in order to stay warm.

How likely would you be to engage in another volunteer vacation work experience? Extremely.

Anything else you'd like to share with us? I cannot emphasize strongly enough how very wonderful Ana was. Truly, the trip would not have been the same incredible adventure that it was without her. She has the ability to make you feel safe.like you can relax and get to work because she is SO organized.plus she has a HUGE appreciation for Peru and so much wants to share her love for the people and country that you know you are getting more than a first-class tour.you are getting into the real heart and soul of the place. By the time we left we felt we had found a sister. Globe Aware is blessed to have such a coordinator. --Louan

Hello Becca,

Please accept my apology for the late response. Overall the trip was amazing, Glen has CD copies of all of the photos. If he has not shared those with you, please notify me and I will send them through mail. We took a lot of pictures. I was disappointed that the chimneys didn't show up, but I'm not sure where the breakdown was. The accommodations were so much more wonderful than I had expected. Thank you for the warning about the lack of warm water. The community was so warm hearted towards Glen and I. One day I may just have to accept there invitations to come back any time for more tea and corn. Everyone opened there doors to us, the school, the medical center, the mayors office and people's homes. Just the things to see occupied so much time, the mummies, Markawasi and the fields. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the opportunity to experience such a vibrant culture and make a difference in the homes of the people of San Pedro de Casta.

Thank you,
Rosalie Mettler
Tomahawk, Alberta, Canada