A few words from the travelers

Dear Mom and Dad,

Can you please pack all my stuff in boxes and send them to Peru? I have decided to live here now. Don’t worry I will send you a letter every once in a while. Thank you! J

Love,

JoJo

Dear friends and family,

            I am currently at a soccer game (futbol) sitting next to Lauren and Andy. We are having a great time. Today we were at the work site for the school. It’s coming along, and we are so close to finishing it. I don’t want to leave; it’s amazing here! Every day I have to tell myself that the mountains are real! All of the hikes that we have gone on are so awesome. There is so much stuff to learn here. Tomorrow we are going up Machu Picchu! Excited to tell everyone about the trip. See you soon!

Tu amigo, Logan

Hello people of Am-er-ica,

            This is Jack Gusto and Lauren the sassy pants. We are sitting at a soccer game waiting for our turn to play. Our butts are going to get kicked, literally. Hector wants everyone to know that he is singing “What makes you beautiful.” Today we worked at the school, building the soccer/basketball field. Yesterday we went to the weaving co-op. Mrs. Ashley said she was going to sell us to the co-op to make weaving products for the rest of our lives, or to make money to pay for college! J We are kinda scared now, but we wish we could live in Peru, if without all the sunburns. Tomorrow we are waking up early to go to Machu Picchu. We have to go play soccer now. We love and miss all of you!! Bye J

Jack and Lauren

After an Afternoon's Work

SMA at Moray ruins

Amazing Moray and the stunning ride home

Chinchero Weaving Cooperative

Leadership Building and Relaxing in Inka's Garden

Friday - Chinchero and Moray

Today we're leaving the hotels at 10:00 to travel to Moray and Chinchero. This is a change in plans since the road to Patacancha (a weaving coop) is being paved and is closed. Students viewed a video about the weaving cooperative in Chinchero, so they will recognize the setting. Moray is another amazing Incan site. We enjoyed hearing from two inspiring local leaders yesterday afternoon. We heard from Carrie first. She has established a mobile clinic, traveling to isolated villages and offering healthcare education to the woman of the communities. Ronaldo was the second speaker. He is an author who is recording the centuries-old oral legends and tales of the Andean people, and he presents them in colorfully illustrated children's books. The tales are written in Quechua and Spanish. His latest books are in three languages, with the addition of English. All the students and faculty say hello. Sorry there is so little time for blogging. The trip is going well with new friendships being developed and new adventures being lived. :)

More photos from Thursday

On the way back from Colegio Valle Sagrado

Hi! We have arrived in Peru and I am so excited! On the first flight, I sat near Sarah Parker. On the second flight, I sat next to Jamie Cornacchia. On the last flight, I sat next to Raquel and Jamie again. We had a long drive into Urubamba and stopped to grab some lunch. It was so good! After that, we drove a little bit more and then arrived in Ollantaytambo, we are surrounded by beautiful tall mountains. I am staying in the Full Moon hostel. So far, the trip has been amazing and SO eye opening! The rafting is definitely a highlight. My host family is so nice, and they have five little puppies! The project is moving slowly but coming along. The kids at the school are so nice! We went to Valle Sagrado (sacred valley school) and I sat in on a religion class. It was so amazing to hear them talk in Spanish about beliefs. The kids are also so nice here! I gave them my email address. I send my love to my parents! Can’t wait to see you!

-Delaney J

HEY!!!!! It is amazingly beautiful here! I’m having the best experience! I wish you were here to enjoy it with me. I think you would like it. I got a poncho made out of alpaca fur!!  I love it so much!! The food here is really interesting. At our host family, they feed us so much. I’m going to be buff when I get back from working so hard. For the service project we are working on making a soccer field, and it’s so much work! But, I’ll probably loose all the weight I’m gaining from my host family’s meals with all the work. My Spanish is getting so good now. I just wanted to tell you that I’m having a GREAT time!! Can’t wait to see you!!! Love you!!

-       Jamie J 

Hello!!!! I miss everyone, but Peru is so beautiful you can’t believe it!! I miss the Rocky Mountains, and will see them soon. I love all of you!!! J

-Jacqueline

I miss everyone, love you mom and dad and really miss you guys. It is amazingly beautiful here, wish you could see these mountains. I haven’t seen any llamas yet but I have seen a lot of SHEEP!!! J           

Sarah C. J


The trip is going by very fast. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it is here. Everything is so unreal. I love everyone!
Lauren

 Classroom at Valle Sagrado

 Murals at Valle Sagrado

 Basketball game

Attempting to Prioritize Global Issues

Wednesday, March 28

Another full day in Peru: Inka's Gardeners spent the morning at Colegio Valle Sagrado in Urabamba. Students visited classes and I had the privilege to share a cup of coffee with Madre Lucia (the director of the school) and Adela (the WLS coordinator). The challenges she faces and the love and compassion she brings to her work are impressive. Due to the amazing fund-raising efforts of St. Mary's Academy students, Valle Sagrado will be able to improve their ceramics classes with a potter's wheel. The Full Moon group worked to improve the Ollanta school's greenhouse, pulling weeds and bringing order to what seemed like chaos when we arrived. Tomorrow, the two groups will switch activities. In the afternoon, all of us spent time attempting to prioritize 19 global issues. Afterward, students met with teachers to brainstorm ideas for their upcoming presentation at Machu Picchu. Free time was followed by meals with our host families and then time playing in the plaza. A few of the Inka's Gardeners played cards, and now we're all snuggled into bed. And, yes, we had a birthday today. Happy Birthday to Michael.
Mrs. Ashley

 Colegio Valle Sagrado

 With Madre after an exciting basketball game.

 On the bus through Urabamba

Michael's cake (the first one celebrated in the daylight)

Jack's, Ben's and Hector's Blog

Hello Coloradans, this is Ben, Jack, and Hector coming to you from Peru. We have just had our 5^th day in Peru. Today I (Ben) went on a hike to the Incan Grain silos. I (Jack) went basket weaving with me (Hector), I (Ben) did that yesterday while we (Jack and Hector) went to the silos. We (Ben, Jack and Hector) have been working hard at getting the soccer/ basketball field ready to be cemented. I (Hector) have been translating for everyone especially me (Ben) while I (Jack) have been playing charades with all the Peruvians because I speak French and not Spanish!!!


This trio has much more to say and will continue, they promise. :)

Hike, Work and Weave

Hola mis amigos!

Callie and Emma here. We are both in Mrs. Ashley’s group and staying at the Inca Garden. After celebrating Kate’s birthday yesterday, and a shock from Michael, we continued our trip with a scenic hike through the hills and ruins of Ollantaytambo. Slightly tiring, we met with the realization of how unfit we are. Yet the hike was still rewarding due to the stunning views of the small mountain village below us and the vivid ruins opposing us.  After another filling lunch with our welcoming host families, we continued our work on the soccer field at the local school - cleaning out more pebbles and dirt. Cannot wait to see the final project. Having an amazing time and am surprised about how quickly the trip is going by. Currently we are in our hostel’s cozy court yard awaiting tonight’s dinner and a fun filled game-night with both groups.

Adios!

Views high above the village of Ollanta from the amazing Incan silos: