It's been two months since we left on our Peruvian adventure. At times, the memories seem to overlap with my present life and at others Peru feels like light years away. Thankfully, we've had each other to help us along as we reintegrated into Canadian society and reorganized our lives in light of what we've experienced.
My outlook on life has certainly undergone some significant changes since coming home and I think the most important of these has been my appreciation for being a young woman in Canada. While in Peru I was acutely aware of my gender, especially in the mountain village of Tallapampa where women and men are treated very differently. Until then, I had known that women all over the world are rarely given the same respect and freedom that men have but I had never experienced this gender divide for myself. I came face to face with this divide when I was asked by several village women (and a few school children in Lima) if I was married and if I had any children. I had never truly considered that had I been born anywhere in the Global South I would already be married (probably to an older man) and have several children. The lack of options for women, beyond becoming a wife and a mother, really affected me and really made me grateful for the options I have as a Canadian woman. I can get a university degree, I can travel all over the world, I can pursue whatever career I choose, and I can decide whether to be married or not or whether to have children or not. These opportunities are not available to hundreds of millions of women all over the globe. They are often afforded no other purpose than to create families and keep them alive, and in Peru I could clearly see the toll that this sort of existence had on the women I encountered.
This entire experience left me with a sense of astonishment at the life I have been blessed with and a desire to do something with the relative power and privilege I have as a Canadian woman. I am constantly reminded of the line from the Spiderman movies, "With great power, comes great responsibility" and I feel that because I am so lucky I have an immense responsibility; to the Peruvian women I met and everyone else I come into contact with on a day to day basis.
So while it's clear where we've been (and we're now beginning to formulate what it all meant) we're still a bit unsure of our direction now that we're home. To me, this is the exciting part- when we get to live what we've learned and I am so grateful that I get to continue on this journey with the incredible group we traveled with. Wherever we end up, I know we'll get there with compassion, a sense of justice and a lot of jokes and I can't wait to get started on this next step of our trip!
Erika
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Last Full Day
Hi everyone - Brendan here.
We have come to out last full day in Peru! While it is rather sad that we will be leaving tomorrow, we are glad to be heading home soon to see everyone we miss so much. Cusco has been an amazing experience. Since we arrived from Chiclayo on Monday, we have spent our time fending off altitude sickness (some of us responded better than others) and trying to do as much as we can with the time we have left. A group of us who were feeling up to it went on Tuesday with Nathan, our contact here, to visit an orphanage run by his organization called Pura Vida. We spent the afternoon with some wonderful young children who we have been carrying donations for since we arrived. They were wonderfully grateful, and we were just as pleased to be able to spend time with them.
Yesterday was our crowning adventure, breaking from our non-touristy approach to this trip - we went to see the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. And what an amazing experience that was! They are every bit as picturesque as pictures paint them out to be, and even more besides. It is an incredible feeling to walk down the narrow cobblestone streets built centuries before, and to see the mountain city that no European settlers ever found. The day itself was rather long, as we left the hotel at 7 in the morning and were not back until 3am today. We had to take two busses, a train, and another bus to get there, and the same on the way back. It was well worth the exhaustion though - we can cross it off the list of things to do in our lives! It really was remarkable.
Unfortunately the group has already started to break up, as Gary had to leave us early this morning to be back at school for his convocation. It is bizarre not to have everyone at meals after all this time, but we wish Gary the very best! We miss you already, my friend.
The story of the day is that Cusco is essentially in lockdown because of rioting protesters in the streets. Don´t be alarmed, we aren´t in danger - the citizens of Cusco realize that their city is a HUGE tourist draw, so they accomplish political change by holding protests rather often. Thus, no taxis or busses are running during the day today and tomorrow. They hope that by decreasing the tourist revenue, the local government will give them what they want. It is actually rather exciting to watch! Because of the lack of public transit, we wil have to leave the hotel early tomorrow morning to get to Cusco airport. Then comes 24 hours of transit time until we arrive home Saturday!
We hope that everyone is well at home, and that you are as excited to see us as we are to see you.
We have come to out last full day in Peru! While it is rather sad that we will be leaving tomorrow, we are glad to be heading home soon to see everyone we miss so much. Cusco has been an amazing experience. Since we arrived from Chiclayo on Monday, we have spent our time fending off altitude sickness (some of us responded better than others) and trying to do as much as we can with the time we have left. A group of us who were feeling up to it went on Tuesday with Nathan, our contact here, to visit an orphanage run by his organization called Pura Vida. We spent the afternoon with some wonderful young children who we have been carrying donations for since we arrived. They were wonderfully grateful, and we were just as pleased to be able to spend time with them.
Yesterday was our crowning adventure, breaking from our non-touristy approach to this trip - we went to see the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. And what an amazing experience that was! They are every bit as picturesque as pictures paint them out to be, and even more besides. It is an incredible feeling to walk down the narrow cobblestone streets built centuries before, and to see the mountain city that no European settlers ever found. The day itself was rather long, as we left the hotel at 7 in the morning and were not back until 3am today. We had to take two busses, a train, and another bus to get there, and the same on the way back. It was well worth the exhaustion though - we can cross it off the list of things to do in our lives! It really was remarkable.
Unfortunately the group has already started to break up, as Gary had to leave us early this morning to be back at school for his convocation. It is bizarre not to have everyone at meals after all this time, but we wish Gary the very best! We miss you already, my friend.
The story of the day is that Cusco is essentially in lockdown because of rioting protesters in the streets. Don´t be alarmed, we aren´t in danger - the citizens of Cusco realize that their city is a HUGE tourist draw, so they accomplish political change by holding protests rather often. Thus, no taxis or busses are running during the day today and tomorrow. They hope that by decreasing the tourist revenue, the local government will give them what they want. It is actually rather exciting to watch! Because of the lack of public transit, we wil have to leave the hotel early tomorrow morning to get to Cusco airport. Then comes 24 hours of transit time until we arrive home Saturday!
We hope that everyone is well at home, and that you are as excited to see us as we are to see you.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Hola everyone!
It´s Erika, writing from our hotel in Chiclayo where we will be leaving from in less than twelve hours for the incredible city of Cuzco. Despite a few mosquito bites and some bruises from the extremely bumpy truck ride through the mountains we are all healthy, happy and none the worse for wear. The past few days have been full of some emotional and physical challenges as we lived in the relatively poor village of Tallapampa, so we were all glad of the break that today offered. (We had nothing planned and were able to spend the day hanging out in Chiclayo). The highlight of today for a few of us was partaking in the Peruvian delicacy of "cuy" at a local restaurant. For those who want to know, "cuy" or "guinea pig" in English is very difficult to eat and was far too expensive for the amount of meat we got but it was definitely a worthwhile experience! Tonight we also visited the Chiclayo market which is known for its witch doctors and fortune tellers. However, by the time we had arrived those booths had already been closed- so that will be an experience which will have to wait for our next trip to Peru.
Tomorrow morning we have a 9:00 flight to Cuzco, complete with 4 hour layover in Lima so we should arrive sometime in the afternoon. At approximately 12,000 feet above sea level we are all anticipating encountering at least some symptoms of altitude sickness (ie. dizziness, headache, nausea, increased heart rate etc.). However, we are all ready to support each other and are eager for this final leg of our trip.
Until we write again, stay well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We are having an incredible time and can´t wait to tell you all about it when we get back home.
Hasta Luego! :)
Erika
It´s Erika, writing from our hotel in Chiclayo where we will be leaving from in less than twelve hours for the incredible city of Cuzco. Despite a few mosquito bites and some bruises from the extremely bumpy truck ride through the mountains we are all healthy, happy and none the worse for wear. The past few days have been full of some emotional and physical challenges as we lived in the relatively poor village of Tallapampa, so we were all glad of the break that today offered. (We had nothing planned and were able to spend the day hanging out in Chiclayo). The highlight of today for a few of us was partaking in the Peruvian delicacy of "cuy" at a local restaurant. For those who want to know, "cuy" or "guinea pig" in English is very difficult to eat and was far too expensive for the amount of meat we got but it was definitely a worthwhile experience! Tonight we also visited the Chiclayo market which is known for its witch doctors and fortune tellers. However, by the time we had arrived those booths had already been closed- so that will be an experience which will have to wait for our next trip to Peru.
Tomorrow morning we have a 9:00 flight to Cuzco, complete with 4 hour layover in Lima so we should arrive sometime in the afternoon. At approximately 12,000 feet above sea level we are all anticipating encountering at least some symptoms of altitude sickness (ie. dizziness, headache, nausea, increased heart rate etc.). However, we are all ready to support each other and are eager for this final leg of our trip.
Until we write again, stay well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We are having an incredible time and can´t wait to tell you all about it when we get back home.
Hasta Luego! :)
Erika
Hello everyone. It´s Brian here giving an update on our aventures in Peru. I am happy to say that we are all well and no major isues have presented themselves to us thus far. We left Lima bright and early Wednesday morning and arrived in Chiclayo where we checked into our hotel rooms for the night. Shortly after, we went to meet with a number of Cafe Feminino representatives for a presentation outlining their struggles and what they were doing to overcome them. Thursday morning we left the hotel and headed toward the mountains to meet with the coffee farmers of Tallampapa. This involved a truck ride that was like no other I had experienced! Sitting in the bed of a Toyota Hilux pickup truck for hours of steep mountain climbs on increasingly narrow paths with massive drops was a nerve-racking, yet amazing, experience. We spent two nights in the mountains and they were absolutely incredible (I´ll let your loved ones fill you in on the experience in a week). Yesterday morning, the group returned to Chiclayo and we travelled to three beaches on the coast. It was interesting to be sleeping deep in the mountains the previuous evening and swimming in the ocean only a few hours later.
Okay, that´s all for now, I´m certain some of the others are itching to get a post in to share their experiences so I´ll let them tell you more. Bye for now :)
Brian Mills
Okay, that´s all for now, I´m certain some of the others are itching to get a post in to share their experiences so I´ll let them tell you more. Bye for now :)
Brian Mills
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Our Final Day in Lima
Hola everyone!
It feels like just yesterday we hopped off the plane and tomorrow we will have already completed a third of our trip. We have been having a great time the last few days...let me fill you in.
Yesterday was a very good day for all of our egos. Following some discussions on the current economic and social situations in Peru, we had the opportunity to visit an elementary school to teach them some English. Although we had started to get used to the Peruvian stares at us "gringos", we now understand what it must feel like to be a teen hearthrob. The excitement, screaming and mauling for autographs by the Peruvian children was overwhelming. Their reactions were completely unexpected. The four hours we spent at the school flew by and it was an experience that we will never forget.
Today is our last day in Lima. We had another lecture this morning about the Church´s role in Peruvian society, but our plans for this afternoon were cancelled. This was fine by us however. Today was the first day that we had sunny, warm weather and we are taking the opportunity to relax before the big hike that starts on jueve (Thursday). We decided to spend some of our free time this afternoon walking through a market close to the Oscar Romero Centre. It was interesting to look at all the fresh fruit, food and shops. The canopy of tarps however was not exactly built for our six foot tall boys.
Tonight will have to be an early one; our bus to the airport leaves at four o´clock in the morning. Wish us a safe flight to Chiclayo everyone!
Hasta luego!
Emily xo
It feels like just yesterday we hopped off the plane and tomorrow we will have already completed a third of our trip. We have been having a great time the last few days...let me fill you in.
Yesterday was a very good day for all of our egos. Following some discussions on the current economic and social situations in Peru, we had the opportunity to visit an elementary school to teach them some English. Although we had started to get used to the Peruvian stares at us "gringos", we now understand what it must feel like to be a teen hearthrob. The excitement, screaming and mauling for autographs by the Peruvian children was overwhelming. Their reactions were completely unexpected. The four hours we spent at the school flew by and it was an experience that we will never forget.
Today is our last day in Lima. We had another lecture this morning about the Church´s role in Peruvian society, but our plans for this afternoon were cancelled. This was fine by us however. Today was the first day that we had sunny, warm weather and we are taking the opportunity to relax before the big hike that starts on jueve (Thursday). We decided to spend some of our free time this afternoon walking through a market close to the Oscar Romero Centre. It was interesting to look at all the fresh fruit, food and shops. The canopy of tarps however was not exactly built for our six foot tall boys.
Tonight will have to be an early one; our bus to the airport leaves at four o´clock in the morning. Wish us a safe flight to Chiclayo everyone!
Hasta luego!
Emily xo
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Hola from Lima!
Hola amigos y familias!
Brendan here, reporting on behalf of everyone. We all made is safely and without issue to Lima yesterday morning. We landed around 7:00 local time at the airport here in Lima. No baggage was lost, no travellers misplaced; all is very well! We are staying at Oscar Romero House in Lima Norte right now, hosted by a wonderful community of missionaries. We have already seen shocking poverty, even within the confines of the city. The neighbourhoods of Lima are as diverse from one another as they are from our cities back home. Within the last few hours we have travelled from dilapidated shack housing, through colonial churches and municipal buildings, to the ritzy, high-end shopping district next to the Pacific Ocean. The variety of experience in this densely populated city is overwhelming.
The food so far has been incredible - we are appreciating it while it lasts, because once we head up into the mountains there is no telling what we will get. The coffee is to die for, as would be expected! We are all eating well, and nobody has felt sick at all so far! (knock on wood)
It is one of the greatest feelings in the world to wake up each morning and step outside to a view of mountains. It was finally clear enough this morning that we could see the peak of the mountain immediately to our north - the start of the Andes. We have already taken so many pictures that you will be exhausted when we make you sit through them all.
I have to say personally that I could not be happier with the group we brought here. We have all gotten so much closer over the past few days, and we get along so well that the Peruvians think we have been best friends for years. We will get each other through, no matter what we encounter. Glen and Rebecca are wonderful guides and friends to all of us, and each of us feels like an integral part of the team.
So, families, until we find internet again, be well! We will take care of each other and continue to create memories to share. Keep praying for us, and see you soon.
-Brendan
Brendan here, reporting on behalf of everyone. We all made is safely and without issue to Lima yesterday morning. We landed around 7:00 local time at the airport here in Lima. No baggage was lost, no travellers misplaced; all is very well! We are staying at Oscar Romero House in Lima Norte right now, hosted by a wonderful community of missionaries. We have already seen shocking poverty, even within the confines of the city. The neighbourhoods of Lima are as diverse from one another as they are from our cities back home. Within the last few hours we have travelled from dilapidated shack housing, through colonial churches and municipal buildings, to the ritzy, high-end shopping district next to the Pacific Ocean. The variety of experience in this densely populated city is overwhelming.
The food so far has been incredible - we are appreciating it while it lasts, because once we head up into the mountains there is no telling what we will get. The coffee is to die for, as would be expected! We are all eating well, and nobody has felt sick at all so far! (knock on wood)
It is one of the greatest feelings in the world to wake up each morning and step outside to a view of mountains. It was finally clear enough this morning that we could see the peak of the mountain immediately to our north - the start of the Andes. We have already taken so many pictures that you will be exhausted when we make you sit through them all.
I have to say personally that I could not be happier with the group we brought here. We have all gotten so much closer over the past few days, and we get along so well that the Peruvians think we have been best friends for years. We will get each other through, no matter what we encounter. Glen and Rebecca are wonderful guides and friends to all of us, and each of us feels like an integral part of the team.
So, families, until we find internet again, be well! We will take care of each other and continue to create memories to share. Keep praying for us, and see you soon.
-Brendan
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Peru, here we come!
My goodness, ladies and gentlemen - tomorrow we leave for Peru. That's one sleep from now! if I get any sleep tonight, that is. These past few weeks have been insane with getting all the travel details together, packing bags, unpacking bags and repacking to be as light and efficient as possible. But now the moment is upon us! Whether we are ready or not, at this time tomorrow we will be in Lima, Peru. How insane is that?
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped us get ready for what we are about to do. Without the confidence of our families and friends, none of us would be about to embark on this journey of a lifetime. Becca and Glen, I hope we do you proud. You put your faith in us as a team, and we in you, and together I know we can make it through.
To everyone else, please keep this close-knit little group of travellers in your thoughts and prayers. We promise to come back with lots of stories and even more pictures.
Hasta manana!!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Here We Are
TWO WEEKS!?!
When did this happen?
I remember this being 6 months away... and here we are...
I've got my pack... I've got my boots... I've got my camera gear... and I'm SO pumped for this
I hope everyone else is prepared for the two best weeks of our lives so far. I thought the retreat weekend was unreal, this is next level! It's unbelievable how much we've done so far and WE HAVEN'T EVEN LEFT YET!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the airport!!
I've got my camera ready and everyone be ready for LOTS photos!
When did this happen?
I remember this being 6 months away... and here we are...
I've got my pack... I've got my boots... I've got my camera gear... and I'm SO pumped for this
I hope everyone else is prepared for the two best weeks of our lives so far. I thought the retreat weekend was unreal, this is next level! It's unbelievable how much we've done so far and WE HAVEN'T EVEN LEFT YET!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the airport!!
I've got my camera ready and everyone be ready for LOTS photos!
New mechanisms for posting to our blog!
We've been able to successfully setup our email blog posting so that our blog posting is simplified while in Peru.
With less than two weeks to go until our departure from Toronto, final details and travel arrangements are nearly 100% confirmed. All of the group members have decided to take on a day at Machu Picchu on the 16th of June and these details are almost all ironed out.
Hope everyone's been able to take their first dose of Dukarol--yum!
Haste Pronto!
With less than two weeks to go until our departure from Toronto, final details and travel arrangements are nearly 100% confirmed. All of the group members have decided to take on a day at Machu Picchu on the 16th of June and these details are almost all ironed out.
Hope everyone's been able to take their first dose of Dukarol--yum!
Haste Pronto!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Hiking shoes, backpacks, and other adventures.
Well the countdown is officially on- we are departing from Toronto airport for Lima, Peru in exactly 22 days! It's still a bit unreal and I really don't think the magnitude of this trip will register for me until our plane is taking off. Until then, June 4th remains just a day on my calender (albeit a frantically circled one). Thankfully, there have been several important events which have helped me acknowledge the nearness of our departure- most significantly our retreat weekend and numerous shopping trips for all the required gear.
Our time spent together as a team over the May 7-9th weekend was exactly what I needed to feel a greater confidence in my fellow travellers and in myself- something I think is absolutely necessary for any trip but especially this one. After spending just three short days with this team I know that I will be able to trust any one of them to look out for me when I need it. And most importantly I now know that even on the most stressful and frustrating day our team will find something to laugh about.
Since the weekend, I've been on the search for much needed equipment, namely a backpack, good shoes, work gloves, a compact jacket and other items. These shopping trips have certainly helped me understand how close we are to June and how much more I have to do before we leave. So while part of me still doesn't realize how soon the 4th is and another part of me is stressing out about my long to-do list, the majority of me is just plain excited about this opportunity- especially the chance to travel with such a wonderful group of people. I'm sure we'll have many more adventures in store before, during and after the trip and I look forward to sharing them all. Until then!
Our time spent together as a team over the May 7-9th weekend was exactly what I needed to feel a greater confidence in my fellow travellers and in myself- something I think is absolutely necessary for any trip but especially this one. After spending just three short days with this team I know that I will be able to trust any one of them to look out for me when I need it. And most importantly I now know that even on the most stressful and frustrating day our team will find something to laugh about.
Since the weekend, I've been on the search for much needed equipment, namely a backpack, good shoes, work gloves, a compact jacket and other items. These shopping trips have certainly helped me understand how close we are to June and how much more I have to do before we leave. So while part of me still doesn't realize how soon the 4th is and another part of me is stressing out about my long to-do list, the majority of me is just plain excited about this opportunity- especially the chance to travel with such a wonderful group of people. I'm sure we'll have many more adventures in store before, during and after the trip and I look forward to sharing them all. Until then!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Up...up...and away!
It's quarter to five on Saturday evening, May 8, 2010 and we're exhausted, hungry, but above all, we're closer as a group than we've ever been! After an early wake-up, some relaxing yoga, a family breakfast, and reflection time, we hit the high ropes course at the YMCA Outdoors Center. This exercise in team building, trust, and overcoming fears, was just what we needed to confirm our interconnectedness and solidarity with one another. Despite the dangerous 60 km winds, frozen fingers, and shaky knees, our belays were on! Here we go!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Retreat Weekend
During the month of June 2010, ten students will be traveling throughout Peru as part of a Residence Service Learning at St. Jerome's University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
The students have been participating in various pre-departure workshops and sessions delivered by talented faculty, staff and community members at St. Jerome's University, Conrad Grebel University and the University of Waterloo. The sessions have been designed to provide some curricular context for the capstone travel experience and dealt with a variety of topics including Fair and un-Fair Trade, Social and Ecological Justice issues, cultural workshops, Liberation Theology and tips for traveling in the Global South.
While in Peru, the students will be working with a number of NGOs and community-based organizations.
Through CICAP, an organization based out of Chiclayo, students will have an opportunity to experience the realities facing many rural farmers in Central and South America. Working directly with Cafe Feminino-a cooperative of female Fair Trade-certified growers-the students will be helping with both the implementation of new rainwater harvesting systems for crop irrigation and the installation of personal water filtration systems for the farmers and their families.
The students will also spend some time with a Not-for-Profit based out of Canada called the Pura Vida Foundation. To find out more about the work of Pura Vida and its founder, Nathan Benninger, please visit the link above.
This weekend, the students will be participating in a weekend retreat at the YMCA Outdoor Centre in advance of their departure date in June.
Check back soon for more updates from the student travellers.
The students have been participating in various pre-departure workshops and sessions delivered by talented faculty, staff and community members at St. Jerome's University, Conrad Grebel University and the University of Waterloo. The sessions have been designed to provide some curricular context for the capstone travel experience and dealt with a variety of topics including Fair and un-Fair Trade, Social and Ecological Justice issues, cultural workshops, Liberation Theology and tips for traveling in the Global South.
While in Peru, the students will be working with a number of NGOs and community-based organizations.
Through CICAP, an organization based out of Chiclayo, students will have an opportunity to experience the realities facing many rural farmers in Central and South America. Working directly with Cafe Feminino-a cooperative of female Fair Trade-certified growers-the students will be helping with both the implementation of new rainwater harvesting systems for crop irrigation and the installation of personal water filtration systems for the farmers and their families.
The students will also spend some time with a Not-for-Profit based out of Canada called the Pura Vida Foundation. To find out more about the work of Pura Vida and its founder, Nathan Benninger, please visit the link above.
This weekend, the students will be participating in a weekend retreat at the YMCA Outdoor Centre in advance of their departure date in June.
Check back soon for more updates from the student travellers.
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