Weather, Water, and Pollution

Although I didn't have many expectations before coming here, I definitely did not anticipate the weather and the pollution. Due to the fact that it's winter, and we are in the mountains, it is extremely cold at night and in the mornings. I go to bed every night wearing multiple layers and under four thick blankets.

Also, there are no restrictions on car emissions and the streets are filled with black smoke. For someone like me, who has only ever known the clean air of Vancouver and Seattle, this has been a very difficult adjustment. I constantly find myself coughing and my eyes watering from all of the smog.

Lastly, even though I knew prior to my arrival that the water conditions are not great in Peru, I had no idea how much it would affect me on a daily basis. Not only are we recommended against drinking tap water but the water is also heated via electricity. This means that hot water is extremely scarce and more often than not I find myself taking cold showers. In fact all of the water, both hot and cold, is shut off at night at around 10 PM and for the past three nights I have had to use the drinking water that they boil for us, poured into a cup, to wash my face and brush my teeth.

Some Drama and Then Some Calm

Wow...so much has happened since I last posted although it's actually only been two days. On Tuesday I started off the day by going to the clinic and meeting with Señora Alicia. This clinic has several parts to it but the part where I volunteer is with the children who have cerebral palsy. She told me that this week I will be working in the "school" portion of the clinic and introduced me to the teacher who explained that the activity of the day was to draw maps of Peru. However once we started she said that she had to step out for a moment and never returned! Occasionally she would pop in to get something from her desk but then she would leave again. Although nurses would come and go to take the kids to their daily physical therapy exercises I was basically alone the whole time which was extremely difficult because I had no way of communicating with the kids since most of them could not speak. At the end of my shift I expressed my concerns to Señora Alicia and she said that the next day I would work in the hospital instead.

Later on in the day I met with my tandem exchange partner, Alexandra, for the first time. She is currently studying English at Maximo Nivel. We talked for a bit and then we decided to go walk around Plaza d'Armas where we were joined by her cousin Magaly. Once I returned to the office I went to my Spanish class which was interesting but unfortunately I couldn't enjoy it because I was feeling feverish. When I finished class I was informed by the office staff that my host family had been caught "breaking the rules" and housing people outside of the volunteers and the knowledge of Maximo Nivel. The other volunteers had been moved out of the house and in the afternoon and I was told to pack up my things so that I could be moved out as well.

I now live in a volunteer house, La Florida, with several others, some of whom I met at my orientation. Although I enjoyed the authentic aspect of staying with a Peruvian family, I think that living at this house is for the best. The next morning I did not go to the clinic because I was sick and instead stayed home and rested. In the afternoon I went with Ariella and Neja, the two girls from my Spanish class, as well as Thomas and Ashleigh, who I met at the house, to some of the markets on the way to Maximo Nivel. Ashleigh is actually from Winnipeg and has one year left to study before becoming a nurse. Thomas is from Indiana and he is the same age as me. While at the market I bought myself some hand-woven colorful wool socks to keep me warm during the freezing Cuzco nights.

After Spanish class, Ariella and I met up with Alexandra and we walked to the Plaza de San Francisco. We were pretty hungry so we went into a restaurant and I had a delicious soup with noodles, beef, a poached egg, and a bunch of spices. Once we returned to the house everyone was pretty tired so we all stayed in and had a movie night.

Meeting People, Making Friends, and Finding My Way

After getting some rest on Sunday I was able to meet the other volunteers who are staying in the house as well as get better aquainted with the family I was placed with. The couple's names are Ivan and Liz and they have two sons: Patrick, who is the same age as my brother and almost 15, and Gabo who is 12. They also have a Scottish terrier named Roni. The other volunteers at the house are Melissa, Johanna (from New York), Johanna (from Australia), and Ruby.

On Monday morning Melissa walked with me from the house to the Maximo Nivel headquarters and showed me the landmarks to look for along the way so that I don't get lost. Once there, I had my orientation along with some other volunteers who arrived this weekend. Two other girls, Ariella and Neja, were placed in the same Spanish class as me and we will be attending it every day for this first week.

After the orientation I had some time before I was set to go visit my project site so Neja and I briefly walked around the famous central courtyard Plaza del Armas. Once I returned to the office one of the staff escorted me to the clinic San Juan de Dios where I will be volunteering in the mornings. I met with the director, Señora Alicia, and she briefly showed me where I will be working. I didn't have much time to look around because I had to return to Maximo Nivel for my afternoon Spanish class with my teacher Dante.

By the time my class was over it was already dark and I was tired from my long day so I decided to catch a taxi back to the house. I hailed a cab and read off the address but I noticed that once we got to one of the landmarks Melissa had pointed out to me, the statue of Pachacutec, the driver started going in a different direction. I kept trying to read off the address and when he finally stopped I realized that he had taken me to the correct address, but I had it written down incorrectly. I quickly asked him to take me back to Maximo Nivel and at the office they realized their mistake in giving me the wrong address in my package. I was then given the right address and caught another taxi back to the house. Even though I ended up paying triple the cab fare it only came out to 10 soles which is equivalent to $3.85.

Even though I was tired when I got home I still went out that night with the other volunteers from the house. It was fun to recount my taxi story and get to know them a little better. Tomorrow we plan on going out to watch the soccer game: Peru vs. Paraguay for the Copa America 2011 games.

Flights and Arrival

It seems as though its been a while since I traveled internationally from YYR airport because everything is backwards. The order of things used to be customs then security but now its reversed and there is a baggage check at the beginning. Oh well no matter...it just meant that I was able to spend an extra 30 seconds saying goodbye to my mom. I was very excited about this trip but once I arrived in San Fransisco it started to hit me how extremely long my day would be.

My flight to Lima was pleasant and it made me realize the difference in experiences when traveling internationally compared to domestic (and US-Canada flights are in the latter category). On domestic flights, the seats are narrow, the entertainment is limited (if at all) and usually not free, and there is a minimal beverage service with an option of buying food...though I wonder if the beverages will continue to be served for free much longer given the state of the economy. However international flights provide meals, vast entertainment, blankets and pillows, and larger seats. Of course I only speak from the experience of three such flights, but I have had wonderful service on each and it made the process of flying such great distances more enjoyable.

Once I arrived in Lima, at about midnight local time, I went through customs and then re-checked my baggage for Cuzco. My next flight was five hours away but unfortunately the domestic security was not due to open for another hour so I had to sit and wait in the food court, which was surprisingly busy given the time, and then I was able to go through security and get to my gate.

My flight to Cuzco, the last leg of my long, long day, took only an hour and I was seated next to a local Peruvian woman who looked to be in her 60s. She spoke only Spanish and I think she was trying to tell me that it was first time flying. My Spanish is a little rusty but judging from the fact that I had to help her put on the seatbelt I think I understood her correctly. Once I arrived I was greated at the airport by representatives from Maximo Nivel...I must admit it's a cool feeling walking out and seeing someone waiting for you holding a sign with your name on it. I was taken to their headquarters, given a brief tour, and then taken to my family house where I immediately went to bed.

Next time: Meeting my family, other volunteers, and the project where I will be working.

Getting Ready

Considering that I am about to leave in two days, I thought that today I should actually start to physically pack my things so that I'm not scrambling around at the last minute trying to find miscellaneous items. Although I'm only now beginning to pack I have been slowly getting ready over the past few weeks in other ways. For example, I made sure to visit the travel clinic and received all necessary immunizations and some medications that might be useful once I arrive. Also, I spent some time with my friend and her mother who traveled to Peru last summer and was able to gather some helpful tips from them. They were extremely informative and told me about several places to see, types of food to try, and which some things to avoid. In addition, I did some research of my own and noted popular attractions that I can go to during the week in the evening time after I finish working each day.

As I reflect on my preparations I think I am most amazed by how technologically dependent I am. Indeed I find it ironic that I am traveling to Cuzco, a city known for its ancient Inca ruins, yet I am coming equipped with a digital camera, iPhone with translation apps, Kindle for some light reading, and movies to watch on the plane. The amount of cords/chargers/devices that I am bringing is no small matter but I know that I will need and use each and every single one while I am away. In fact, in order to be able to continue blogging while I'm in Cuzco I am depending on having regular access to a computer with an internet connection. Although I don't see myself being chained to the computer and delivering daily updates, I do hope to at least post something every 3-4 days. Still, just to be on the safe side and make sure I don't forget interesting details in between posts I have packed a small journal that I can write in during the day.

I know myself and I know that I like to be prepared. However I also realize that I am going to an unfamiliar place and will be in new situations on a daily basis. My plan is to just roll with the punches and try not to over-think too much so that I can enjoy my trip to the fullest. Safety is of course my top priority, but I also want to make sure that I have a gratifying, fun, and memorable experience.

The Background Story

Wow...I can't believe that next Saturday I will be on my way to Cuzco, Peru! The idea to go to Peru came to me last summer after my friend told me about her trip to Vietnam. She raved about her experience and, being a lover of travel, I decided to look into it for myself. I had heard of several volunteer organizations in the past but being able to listen to her experience firsthand was really convincing and made me research the Global Volunteer Network further. Once I read about their program in Peru I was convinced that it was for me and I made it my goal to earn enough money throughout the school year to be able to go in the summer.

Fast forward one year and here I am, getting ready to leave in just over a week. Although I worked hard to make my Peruvian dream come to fruition, I would not have been able to do it without the support of my family, friends, and community. With the help of a scholarship from my synagogue, Temple Shalom, and an award from the BC Children's Hospital Auxiliary, where I volunteer, I was able to pay for the cost of the program. Also, I managed to raise $1350 in donations to spend on supplies for the clinic that I will be working in once I arrive in Cuzco.

As I start to pack and prepare for my trip I can't help but feel extremely appreciative for all of the support that I have received. I know that there are many people who are proud of what I am about to do and have complimented me on my desire to go and help others. I am thankful for their generosity and encouragement and I hope that this experience turns out to be as great as I imagine it will be.