Photos from Day 6, July 1

Blog from Day 6, July 1st

Today we all went to the school for  our second work day we started painting murals on the walls outside of the school. We are painting the American and American flags, the Andean Cross and some Incan symbolic pictures, a mural of trees and flowers, and a mural of soccer ball with children arandit. After painting in the morning we all went back to our homestay for lunch.

After lunch we come back to the school to finish our murals.

After painting we will do some more activities and prepare for our hike tomorrow!

Connor Phillips

Photos from Ollantaytambo Celebration, Day 4

Blog - Day 3 & 4

Day 4: June, 29th

We started the day off with basket weaving. For which my lack of talent is astounding (nevertheless, I am very satisfied with my mediocre basket). We got another taste of Ollantaytambo’s culture with the ¨Viva la historia¨ play honoring the town’s Incan Roots. The play was performed by hundreds of local students with traditional costume, song, dance and despite the use of a local language (neither Spanish nor English), it was very entertaining. The best part of the day, though, was our arrival, we were served guinea pig (which is slightly comparable to duck).

We finally put our Spanish to use and spoke for hours with the family.

We taught the grandson, Rodrigo, to play cards and suddenly 2 hours had passed. I haven’t been here for long, but I already feel like I have a family. Just as welcoming are the snow- capped mountains that surround our house (I’m still slightly convinced we’re looking at a green screen). It’s so exciting to think that the journey is just beginning. I can’t wait to see what it holds.

LUCY SOHR

Day 5: June, 30^th

Today we walked to school with Rodrigo, who is a member of Lucy and I’s host family. While we waited for the principal of the school to come, we cleaned up the trash in the field. When the principal got here we introduce ourselves to about thirty excited students from first to sixth grade. While the students learned science, math, and communications, we were outside weeding and painting.

A I though we had not finished the school already looked transformed when they came out for lunch. Lunch consisted of fish, lentils, and rice, all freshly cooked that morning. At lunch we were given the opportunity to improve our Spanish by talking with then before we went back to our host families. All of the host families are so excited to have us and have not ceased to offer us food since we got here. I’m more stuffed then, I have ever been.

JUNIOR MARGARET

 

Today we had the chance to go to the Temple of the Sun (Inca ruins in Ollantaytambo). We learned about the structures in which they were made and the history of why the temple was built. We walked to the top of the ruins and had a chance to see over the town of Ollantaytambo, which was breath taking. At the bottom of the ruins we ran into a family of alpacas, which were very friendly and willing to take pictures with us. After lunch, we went to go see a local traditional Incan healer, who taught us about the local culture and blessed our journey. After the healer we went to dinner, and had the opportunity to try a local drink that consists of purple corn, cinnamon, sugar, and pineapple; it was really good! It has been very enjoyable to talk to locals and practice our Spanish. They have been very patient and willing to communicate with us. Tomorrow we are headed to our home stays and are totally excited!!! We miss y'all but are having a wonderful time! :)

-Rachel Ryman and Emily Boone

Day 2 in Peru:

After a nice breakfast at our hotel in Lima, we flew to Cusco this morning and met our two World Leadership School Guides, Johan and Lida.  Together, we took a bus through the mountains to Ollantaytambo and checked into our second hotel.  We will be here for two nights, which is good since it is quite nice!  It is amazing to be between mountains that are so tall they pierce the clouds!

This afternoon, Johan and Lida led us through some curricular and bonding exercises, then we all walked to a local restaurant for dinner.

Starting tomorrow, two students per day will be taking charge of our blog posts.

Much love from all of us!

Audry

Enjoy the following Photos:

1:  Packing up and getting ready to leave Lima
2:  A view from our drive to Ollantaytambo
3:  Our new hotel in Ollantaytambo (check out those mountains!)
4:  Sam and Connor sporting their new style
5:  Dinner

Good Morning!  Just a quick note that we arrived safely in Lima last night.  Everyone was tired but in great spirits.  We are staying at a quaint hostel (http://www.hostalelpatio.net/index.html) this morning, and we are leaving for Cusco in a few hours.  The 59 degree, fog shrouded marine layer of coastal Lima is a wonderful change from the South in June.  More to follow!  Paul