Sunday, July 5, 2009
July 5th, 2009
As of 4:30 pm Sunday, the group has successfully arrived in Lima, has visited the San Francisco Catacombs, had a ceviche and seafood lunch and is wandering around the LarcoMar ocean-side shopping mall. What a change from Chilca! They have only about five hours before check-in for their flight home to the states. See you soon! Alecia, trip co-leader.
July 4th, 2009 Final Post
7/4/2009Hola amigos y parientes…it is Eva and it is currently 10:15 on Saturday night. We are down to our final hours here in Peru. As we were enjoying Indian cuisine off the plaza in Cusco, it suddenly occurred to me that today is our independence…Happy 4th! I imagine as I am typing this, most of you are watching fireworks and eating popsicles on a muggy Nashville night which feels so far away from where we are now. Although, in only 24 hours, I realize that we will be boarding a plane and ending this journey we began together 2 weeks ago in the Nashville Airport.
I will give you a quick (brevity has never really been my forte) rundown from me on the last few days. Garrett and I rose from our sick beds and returned to work on Tuesday where we brought much life to the job site; starting a sing-a-long to Grease and other show tunes as we peeled bamboo. Wednesday we finished up our work and had a huge celebration, called Patacancha, with our host families and other members of the Chilca community. It was quite a feast and all cooked over hot stones. We had plates piled high with a variety of meats and potatoes which we ate with our bare paws. It was some serious carnage. Thursday we said our 
goodbyes to our Peruvian families and friends and departed for Ollantaytambo. In Ollanta we visited the local high school and then drove up to Patchamanca, on a road that is only about 10 years old, to see a weaving village up in the mountains where the people continue to live as they have for hundreds of years. It was pretty amazing to witness and their work was unbelievable.
goodbyes to our Peruvian families and friends and departed for Ollantaytambo. In Ollanta we visited the local high school and then drove up to Patchamanca, on a road that is only about 10 years old, to see a weaving village up in the mountains where the people continue to live as they have for hundreds of years. It was pretty amazing to witness and their work was unbelievable. Yesterday we arose at 4:15 am, grabbed some pan (bread) and caught the 5:30 train to Machu Picchu. There are truly no words for that place. I am not even going to try but we did take lots of pictures that I hope will at least bring some of it’s magic to all of you. We returned to Ollanta around 7:30 where a dinner of trucha (trout) and cui (guinea pig) awaited us. Let me tell you folks, they cook that little pig up whole down here…put it on a plate with teeth, claws and all. I will be forever haunted by Garrett and Creed making tha
t little head sing to me “Eva Lea eat me please” or something along those lines. This morning we got up and hit the road for Cusco. We had Indian for lunch which I know sounds strange as we are in Peru, but everyone was ready to mix things up a bit especially as last night was clearly the chart topper when it comes to the Peruvian cuisine experience. After lunch we went to Qorikancha and the Basilica Catedral. Jason, our fearless and fabulous leader, had a last meeting with each of the kids and we went for our cena final (final dinner).
t little head sing to me “Eva Lea eat me please” or something along those lines. This morning we got up and hit the road for Cusco. We had Indian for lunch which I know sounds strange as we are in Peru, but everyone was ready to mix things up a bit especially as last night was clearly the chart topper when it comes to the Peruvian cuisine experience. After lunch we went to Qorikancha and the Basilica Catedral. Jason, our fearless and fabulous leader, had a last meeting with each of the kids and we went for our cena final (final dinner). Tomorrow Molly and I will take the crew back to Lima, where it all began, and start our journey homeward. Though it is difficult to fully process right now, this experience has been pretty incredible for us all. We have stretched ourselves way beyond our comfort zones and we will return home with broadened perspectives because of it. We have eaten the food, lived the culture, spoken the language and invested a little piece of ourselves in a tiny Peruvian village whose people we will not soon forget. I am so very proud of our students and you parents should be too. You have raised them well! They have been open minded and gracious. They have met challenges, faced fears and rarely complained. Together we have worked and laughed and bonded over everything from experiences at the latrine to the education crisis in developing countries like Peru. Our appreciation for others, our similarities and differences, has definitely deepened as well as our appreciation for our families and our opportunities back home. I am so thankful for our time together and though it is sad to see it come to an end, we are all very excited to get home to each of you. Mom, Dad and Max I love you and I will see you soon! Until we all meet again at BNA…buenas noches…Eva
Thursday, July 2, 2009
July 1 and 2
The Final Day in Chilca, the group in front of the almost finished cafeteria.
July 1, 2009
Hello Again, Olivia here. Right now we are sitting watching the students ceremony before school. This is the first day they have had school since we have been here, and nothing has happened. I played volleyball with a group of girls, that I have played with a few times before. Now, they line up in lines, and this guy is giving them a speech. The teachers are on strike today, so there is one teacher and then a lot of students. Literally we are almost having a stare-down with smiles, pretty interesting. Just got surrounded by a group of them and I just explained how I am typing to our families back in the US, they all seem so interested in this blogging. We are on our fourth day of work today, hopefully we will get a lot done, and then tomorrow is our last work day in Chilca. Everyone seems to love their host family, and the kids in each family are
adorable. It is amazing how each family makes each of us feel like we are at home. Last night we had a great dinner when we got home from the hike. It was delicious, many of us had llama steak, others had pasta, and for desert we had ice cream and brownies, DELICIOUS! Now off to work!!!
__________________
July 2nd
Bryce and Sam here.
This morning at 7 o’clock we departed from Chilca. As we left the houses, we gave the families our contact information for when we landed in the US. These people from Chilca have made an impact on our lives and have become our friends. As we leave this rural town we are headed to Ollantaytambo, where we are visiting a class at the High School this morning. Climbing the mountain was probably the toughest thing we have accomplished so far. Bryce and I brought up the rear about 90% of the time. When night rolled around it was insanely cold, we estimate that everyone froze. Either way the mountain hike was amazing, and a great experience. The bus ride is almost done to Ollanta so we are going to have to cut this blog short. We will be home soon, approximately 3 days. Can’t wait to see everyone.
Much Love, Sam and Bryce
__________________
Buenos Dias!
Last night was our last night in Chilca and to celebrate our final night with our families and finishing our part of the cafeteria the entire community held a Panchamanka in our honor. A Panchamanka is a feast in which the food is cooked under heated rocks and covered with a tarp and then dirt under it is fully cooked.
For our feast, we had pork , chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, cooked bananas, and trout. Quite a combination and a ton of food. It was delicious! After the meal, we all went back to pack up and spend time with our families before heading back to Ollaytantambo in the morning.
In Ollantaytambo today, we first went to Observe a class at a high school. The English teacher apparently decided that she didn’t feel like coming in this morning so we had to observe a math class. Hayden, Megan, Candace & I sat in on a class of students our age and they were just now learning the basics of angles. In the last 5 minutes of class the students were allowed to ask us questions. A lot of them tried to speak to us in English it was funny to hear their attempts at saying English words. After visiting the classes in that school for awhile we had about 3 hours of free time, which the majority of us used for shopping for ourselves and our families. Now we are on our way to visit another school then we will head home for the night, hopefully get a warm shower and get ready for Machu Picchu in the morning!
See you all in 4 days!
Sarah
This is Garrett here! Hope everything is great. Everything is here. After getting over being sick, it’s been awesome. To start off, yesterday was our last day in Chilca. We worked from 8:30 to 3:00, and got really far in our project. On top of a lot of work, Candace, Olivia and I had a mud fight. Bad idea. My face was covered, and thanks to Candace, my ears were clogged. We had a quick wash off, and hopefully the shower tonight will get it all. Then we had a celebration called Panchamanka were we had a huge early dinner, which consisted of pork, chicken, trout, potatoes and beans. It was incredible. Then we just hung out the rest of the night and played some soccer. We woke up bright and early this morning to leave Chilca at 7. After saying our goodbyes we went to a high school, and sat in on a class for a while. Creed, Cory, Pearce, Coach Lea, Coach Wilson, and I sat in on a communications class. It was crazy to see how out of control it was. Most of the student, of about 40, weren’t even paying attention. We were then set free to do what we wanted to do in Ollatatambo. I went Peruvian shopping with Creed, Hayden, and Olivia. We got some pretty sweet stuff. Then we all went to eat the most amazing chicken burritos that have even entered my mouth. They were our second time to have them, and just as delicious as the first. We went back to the hostel we are staying at for about thirty minutes, and then hopped on the bus, which is were we are now. We are heading to another school, where we will watch a weaver. Hopefully it will go well. I love you and miss you Mom and Dad! And Happy Birthday Mr. McClellan! Hope it’s a great one. See you on Monday!
Garrett
Dear Mr. McClellan, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthdayyyyyyyyy Mr. McClellan, Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Love Olivia, and Hayden
P.S. Kathy and Cromwell I love and miss you both sooo much!!!
Hi everyone, it’s Hayden!! We are about to get started on our second-to-last day of work! Sunday morning we left to go on our big hike. It took about four and a half hours to get up. It was quite hard, mainly because of the altitude. We hiked almost 2,000 feet and ended up on top of a mountain in the middle of no where at about 14,000 feet. It was freezing when we got to the top!! We had some great food and struggled for warmth throughout the night. Jason was right when he said it would be the coldest we’ve ever been. Garret and Coach Lea didn’t go because of their sickness, but luckily are feeling better now. Candace woke up hyperventilating, and said she couldn’t get air to her lungs, so she had to be carried down the mountain in the middle of the night, but is feeling much better now! We got some sleep and woke up around 7 for breakfast and to pack up. The mules carried our stuff for us. Coach Wilson woke up Monday morning on the top of the mountain with a 103 
degree fever and feeling horrible. She was a trooper though, as it took about another 4 and a half hours to get down the mountain. We were definitely all ready to get down. We stopped for lunch at the bottom and rode a bus back to Ollanta to take some hot showers and have a FABULOUS dinner! We are having a blast and enjoying our last few days in Chilca with our homestays. See you all soon!!
_______________________
degree fever and feeling horrible. She was a trooper though, as it took about another 4 and a half hours to get down the mountain. We were definitely all ready to get down. We stopped for lunch at the bottom and rode a bus back to Ollanta to take some hot showers and have a FABULOUS dinner! We are having a blast and enjoying our last few days in Chilca with our homestays. See you all soon!!_______________________
Hello Again, Olivia here. Right now we are sitting watching the students ceremony before school. This is the first day they have had school since we have been here, and nothing has happened. I played volleyball with a group of girls, that I have played with a few times before. Now, they line up in lines, and this guy is giving them a speech. The teachers are on strike today, so there is one teacher and then a lot of students. Literally we are almost having a stare-down with smiles, pretty interesting. Just got surrounded by a group of them and I just explained how I am typing to our families back in the US, they all seem so interested in this blogging. We are on our fourth day of work today, hopefully we will get a lot done, and then tomorrow is our last work day in Chilca. Everyone seems to love their host family, and the kids in each family are
adorable. It is amazing how each family makes each of us feel like we are at home. Last night we had a great dinner when we got home from the hike. It was delicious, many of us had llama steak, others had pasta, and for desert we had ice cream and brownies, DELICIOUS! Now off to work!!!__________________
July 2nd
Bryce and Sam here.
This morning at 7 o’clock we departed from Chilca. As we left the houses, we gave the families our contact information for when we landed in the US. These people from Chilca have made an impact on our lives and have become our friends. As we leave this rural town we are headed to Ollantaytambo, where we are visiting a class at the High School this morning. Climbing the mountain was probably the toughest thing we have accomplished so far. Bryce and I brought up the rear about 90% of the time. When night rolled around it was insanely cold, we estimate that everyone froze. Either way the mountain hike was amazing, and a great experience. The bus ride is almost done to Ollanta so we are going to have to cut this blog short. We will be home soon, approximately 3 days. Can’t wait to see everyone.
Much Love, Sam and Bryce__________________
Buenos Dias!
Last night was our last night in Chilca and to celebrate our final night with our families and finishing our part of the cafeteria the entire community held a Panchamanka in our honor. A Panchamanka is a feast in which the food is cooked under heated rocks and covered with a tarp and then dirt under it is fully cooked.
For our feast, we had pork , chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, cooked bananas, and trout. Quite a combination and a ton of food. It was delicious! After the meal, we all went back to pack up and spend time with our families before heading back to Ollaytantambo in the morning.
In Ollantaytambo today, we first went to Observe a class at a high school. The English teacher apparently decided that she didn’t feel like coming in this morning so we had to observe a math class. Hayden, Megan, Candace & I sat in on a class of students our age and they were just now learning the basics of angles. In the last 5 minutes of class the students were allowed to ask us questions. A lot of them tried to speak to us in English it was funny to hear their attempts at saying English words. After visiting the classes in that school for awhile we had about 3 hours of free time, which the majority of us used for shopping for ourselves and our families. Now we are on our way to visit another school then we will head home for the night, hopefully get a warm shower and get ready for Machu Picchu in the morning!
See you all in 4 days!
Sarah
This is Garrett here! Hope everything is great. Everything is here. After getting over being sick, it’s been awesome. To start off, yesterday was our last day in Chilca. We worked from 8:30 to 3:00, and got really far in our project. On top of a lot of work, Candace, Olivia and I had a mud fight. Bad idea. My face was covered, and thanks to Candace, my ears were clogged. We had a quick wash off, and hopefully the shower tonight will get it all. Then we had a celebration called Panchamanka were we had a huge early dinner, which consisted of pork, chicken, trout, potatoes and beans. It was incredible. Then we just hung out the rest of the night and played some soccer. We woke up bright and early this morning to leave Chilca at 7. After saying our goodbyes we went to a high school, and sat in on a class for a while. Creed, Cory, Pearce, Coach Lea, Coach Wilson, and I sat in on a communications class. It was crazy to see how out of control it was. Most of the student, of about 40, weren’t even paying attention. We were then set free to do what we wanted to do in Ollatatambo. I went Peruvian shopping with Creed, Hayden, and Olivia. We got some pretty sweet stuff. Then we all went to eat the most amazing chicken burritos that have even entered my mouth. They were our second time to have them, and just as delicious as the first. We went back to the hostel we are staying at for about thirty minutes, and then hopped on the bus, which is were we are now. We are heading to another school, where we will watch a weaver. Hopefully it will go well. I love you and miss you Mom and Dad! And Happy Birthday Mr. McClellan! Hope it’s a great one. See you on Monday!
Garrett
Dear Mr. McClellan, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthdayyyyyyyyy Mr. McClellan, Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Love Olivia, and Hayden
P.S. Kathy and Cromwell I love and miss you both sooo much!!!
Group Headed to Patacancha
Hello parents,
I wanted to let you know that I just spoke with Kennedy Leavens, our ground coordinator in Peru, who let me know the group is in Ollantaytambo now and headed to Patacancha this afternoon as scheduled. All the kids and teachers are doing great. They have been blogging but are unable to post their blog because electricity is out today in this entire region of Peru. As Kennedy explains it, "They still have not figured out how to work on the electrical system without turning off electricity to the entire region!" The group will post as soon as the electricity comes on. In the meantime, they will continue to have a great time. The kids have done a great job and we're really proud of the work they have done.
Ross
I wanted to let you know that I just spoke with Kennedy Leavens, our ground coordinator in Peru, who let me know the group is in Ollantaytambo now and headed to Patacancha this afternoon as scheduled. All the kids and teachers are doing great. They have been blogging but are unable to post their blog because electricity is out today in this entire region of Peru. As Kennedy explains it, "They still have not figured out how to work on the electrical system without turning off electricity to the entire region!" The group will post as soon as the electricity comes on. In the meantime, they will continue to have a great time. The kids have done a great job and we're really proud of the work they have done.
Ross
The Ensworth students are coming home soon!
Message to Parents:
The group is returning on Monday morning to the Nashville Airport. Below you will find the return flight information for your convenience.
•July 5th LAN Peru 018 Cusco- Lima 9:25AM – 10:50AM
•July 6th Delta 0236 Lima - Atlanta, GA 12:20AM – 8:09AM
Delta 5474 Atlanta - Nashville 11:05AM – 11:15AM
Parents are asked to meet their sons and daughters at the airport. Please call the office at 303-679-3412 or e-mail Erin at erin@worldleadershipschool.com with any questions.
The group is returning on Monday morning to the Nashville Airport. Below you will find the return flight information for your convenience.
•July 5th LAN Peru 018 Cusco- Lima 9:25AM – 10:50AM
•July 6th Delta 0236 Lima - Atlanta, GA 12:20AM – 8:09AM
Delta 5474 Atlanta - Nashville 11:05AM – 11:15AM
Parents are asked to meet their sons and daughters at the airport. Please call the office at 303-679-3412 or e-mail Erin at erin@worldleadershipschool.com with any questions.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Blog Update
Hello parents,
I just wanted to post a quick note to say that the students had a wonderful trek and have now returned to Chilca, where they are finishing up their service project today. The dining hall is slowly taking shape and the students have been working hard. Today they have a community pachamanca, which is a community celebration in which meat, potatoes and other vegetables are roasted underground with red-hot rocks. They will return to Ollantaytambo, where there is internet access, and hopefully will update the blog then. Tomorrow they will spend time in Ollantaytambo and also visit the weaver's cooperative in Patacancha, a Quechuan village high in the Andes.
Ross
I just wanted to post a quick note to say that the students had a wonderful trek and have now returned to Chilca, where they are finishing up their service project today. The dining hall is slowly taking shape and the students have been working hard. Today they have a community pachamanca, which is a community celebration in which meat, potatoes and other vegetables are roasted underground with red-hot rocks. They will return to Ollantaytambo, where there is internet access, and hopefully will update the blog then. Tomorrow they will spend time in Ollantaytambo and also visit the weaver's cooperative in Patacancha, a Quechuan village high in the Andes.
Ross
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