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!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
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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