Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile... It has been a very busy trip! Last weekend we did a lot of traveling throughout Peru. We visited a place called "Sacsyhuaman" which was a site where the Incan people built some of the most wonderful constructions. It was amazing how smart these people were. I can't imagine how they put all of the constructions together. Anyways, we also visited numerous sites where Indians had been, and constructed living areas. We climbed many steps of old rocks, and saw many buildings.
Throughout the weekend I just kept thinking about how cool all of the sites were, and how fortunate we are to be able to go an visit them. It amazes me that all of these constructions are still around, however it shows how good of builders they were, and how smart they were. We also were able to do some good shopping this weekend at a market in Pisac. We also were introduced to one of their main Peruvian foods known as "cui", or as we like to call it...Guinepig!! It was crazy to see this animal on a stick...so sad too. Makes me think of my childhood pet, but thats the culture here. I have yet to actually try it.
After a long weekend of traveling, we started our service projects on Monday. I am placed a Kindergarten located in the mountains. There are about 50 students in the school, with 2 teachers. The schools are very different here in a sense, that they are more laid back. I am learning that their "state standards" probably aren't as high as ours. However, they still are a government run school. The first day that we were there, we were able to interact with the kids a lot, and although it was hard to communicate with them, we could still smile at them! :) I am enjoying the service project very much! We have been able to help the teacher with a lot of planning while she teaches.
Overall, this trip is still amazing me everyday! Tomorrow we get to go see a professional soccer game with our class, and finish out the rest of our spanish classes! I hope to talk with all of you soon!
Love, Baker, Andi, Andria
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Day Cinco!(5)
Hola!
Hello from Peru! This trip has been so wonderful so far. I am learning so much...from new Spanish words daily to how to live with another family. The last couple days have been full of activities. I had my first day of school, which really felt like my first day...because my Spanish is still horrible. However, I am making small victories everyday. I am learning that it is so hard to not to be able to communicate with people. This lesson is very hard for me to take in because I like to control situations, and be the "leader"...however, I have to let others step in and make desicions...which is very good for me to practice, but VERY hard! lol
Anyways, the last couple of days I have: visited the Super Market, and purchased a Peruvian Volleyball, visited the most beautiful Cathedrals in the world, seen the work of the Incas (which is so amazing! I don't know how they did it. They sure didn't have cranes back then! It was very impressive), ate Peruvian Pizza, danced at the local "Disco-techa", tried MANY different foods, learned how to salsa, visited the local market (a BIG cultural experience), and also continued the learn a lot of Spainsh!
To some things up so far, I have truly learned that laughter is the world's best form of communication. Why? Because everyone knows how to do it! Although my Spanish is very bad, I do know how to laugh, and sometimes that's good enough. The example that made me realize this was after I had purchased a volleyball from the Super market, my friends and I went to a park to hang out, and enjoy the sun. After a couple of minutes of sitting, these 3 young girls (around the ages of 8-10) asked if they could use my volleyball, I said yes, and then decided to join them. What an amazing experience! How often do you get to play a sport with other people from another country! For about, 30 min. we all just played together without a net bumping and setting the ball. I didn't really know how to communicate with them, but we laughed so much! If one of us missed the ball, or have to dive...we all laughed! It just warms my heart to know that I was accepted, even though I was different. I finally felt what it's like to be the "weird looking girl", and it was a very powerful lesson.
Hopefully I will be able to blog again soon, if not...Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers! And also, Good Luck to my Brother Aaron who is running a Marathon this Sunday in honor of our Grandma Anne!
-Andria
Hello from Peru! This trip has been so wonderful so far. I am learning so much...from new Spanish words daily to how to live with another family. The last couple days have been full of activities. I had my first day of school, which really felt like my first day...because my Spanish is still horrible. However, I am making small victories everyday. I am learning that it is so hard to not to be able to communicate with people. This lesson is very hard for me to take in because I like to control situations, and be the "leader"...however, I have to let others step in and make desicions...which is very good for me to practice, but VERY hard! lol
Anyways, the last couple of days I have: visited the Super Market, and purchased a Peruvian Volleyball, visited the most beautiful Cathedrals in the world, seen the work of the Incas (which is so amazing! I don't know how they did it. They sure didn't have cranes back then! It was very impressive), ate Peruvian Pizza, danced at the local "Disco-techa", tried MANY different foods, learned how to salsa, visited the local market (a BIG cultural experience), and also continued the learn a lot of Spainsh!
To some things up so far, I have truly learned that laughter is the world's best form of communication. Why? Because everyone knows how to do it! Although my Spanish is very bad, I do know how to laugh, and sometimes that's good enough. The example that made me realize this was after I had purchased a volleyball from the Super market, my friends and I went to a park to hang out, and enjoy the sun. After a couple of minutes of sitting, these 3 young girls (around the ages of 8-10) asked if they could use my volleyball, I said yes, and then decided to join them. What an amazing experience! How often do you get to play a sport with other people from another country! For about, 30 min. we all just played together without a net bumping and setting the ball. I didn't really know how to communicate with them, but we laughed so much! If one of us missed the ball, or have to dive...we all laughed! It just warms my heart to know that I was accepted, even though I was different. I finally felt what it's like to be the "weird looking girl", and it was a very powerful lesson.
Hopefully I will be able to blog again soon, if not...Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers! And also, Good Luck to my Brother Aaron who is running a Marathon this Sunday in honor of our Grandma Anne!
-Andria
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Made it!
Well, after a lot of flying (9 hours total) we all finally made it to Cozco! My roommate and I (Shelby) were picked up from the airport by our host family this afternoon. We were very welcomed into their home, and have been learn a ton about the culture here! It's such an amazing view of the mountains. The area we are in is filled with mountains, they are very pretty! Also, our host family filled our bellies with some wonderful chicken noodle soup when we arrived. The family is made up of grandparents who have been married for 53 year! Then, there are two sisters that live here as well. Both of the sisters know a fair amount of English, so we have had some wonderful conversations with them.
Tomorrow we start our adventure by walking to the school where we will be taking a Spanish test to see which group we should be placed in to learn Spanish. (My Spanish is terrible, so I will probably be working with the lowest group, but that's alright...you gotta start somewhere!) After our placement we will begin our lessons, then head back to our host families house for lunch. In the afternoon we will be getting a city tour of Cozco. It should be very entertaining! Then, at night our host family is taking us to a festival! We are very excited! I am missing everyone back home! Hope all is well!
-Andria
Tomorrow we start our adventure by walking to the school where we will be taking a Spanish test to see which group we should be placed in to learn Spanish. (My Spanish is terrible, so I will probably be working with the lowest group, but that's alright...you gotta start somewhere!) After our placement we will begin our lessons, then head back to our host families house for lunch. In the afternoon we will be getting a city tour of Cozco. It should be very entertaining! Then, at night our host family is taking us to a festival! We are very excited! I am missing everyone back home! Hope all is well!
-Andria
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
How did I get here?
To start from the very beginning...As an upcoming Senior at Alma College, I started realizing back in the Fall that I hadn't competed my "S Course" as they call it, which is a course that every student at Alma is required to take that involves a cultural experince in some way. As I beat around the bush for a couple of years, I realized that I needed to fulfill this requirement. Therefore, as I searched for the right course for me, I came across this Peru trip. I noticed that one of my favorite professors (Dr. Seals) was leading the trip, and that it included a lot of traveling in Peru, along with many Spanish lessons, and most importantly I will be able to work with children! Then, I filled out an application, and was accepted! So that's where this trip began...
The trip that I will be taking begins on April 30th and ends on May 22nd. Throughout the trip I will be:
-Staying with a host family in Cusco (with my best friend Shelby Alexander)
-Taking Spanish Lessons every morning during the week for 3-4 hours.
-Participating in Service Learning projects with the children of Cusco
-Teaching English and helping out in the classrooms in Cusco
-Traveling to many places inluding: Macchu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, and the Colca Valley
-And furthering my education in a variety of ways! oh ya, and having FUN too!
Lastly, I will mention my many thanks to the Center for Responsible Leadership group for helping me afford this trip. The "CRL" is a program that I partcipated in last Summer through a large group trip to New Mexico, where I developed my leadership with other students from Alma College. This trip was a wonderful experience for my personal development. I learned how to be an effective leader, and ways to process ideas with others. Through this trip we returned back to Alma, and began formulating a plan to improve our campus and community. We formed two group committees, called the Collaboration and Commnication committees, where we are discovering ways to make improvements throughout our area. CRL has provided me with lifelong friends and experiences that I could only have once imagined. Some of these friends include my fellow travelers: Alexa Gilbert, Chelsea Duff, and Elizabeth.
I hope that everyone who looks at my blog will enjoy my thoughts. I am very excited to engage in this opportunity, and learn what it's like to live in another culture!
Please leave me comments, and positive notes as I will be missing you!
The trip that I will be taking begins on April 30th and ends on May 22nd. Throughout the trip I will be:
-Staying with a host family in Cusco (with my best friend Shelby Alexander)
-Taking Spanish Lessons every morning during the week for 3-4 hours.
-Participating in Service Learning projects with the children of Cusco
-Teaching English and helping out in the classrooms in Cusco
-Traveling to many places inluding: Macchu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, and the Colca Valley
-And furthering my education in a variety of ways! oh ya, and having FUN too!
Lastly, I will mention my many thanks to the Center for Responsible Leadership group for helping me afford this trip. The "CRL" is a program that I partcipated in last Summer through a large group trip to New Mexico, where I developed my leadership with other students from Alma College. This trip was a wonderful experience for my personal development. I learned how to be an effective leader, and ways to process ideas with others. Through this trip we returned back to Alma, and began formulating a plan to improve our campus and community. We formed two group committees, called the Collaboration and Commnication committees, where we are discovering ways to make improvements throughout our area. CRL has provided me with lifelong friends and experiences that I could only have once imagined. Some of these friends include my fellow travelers: Alexa Gilbert, Chelsea Duff, and Elizabeth.
I hope that everyone who looks at my blog will enjoy my thoughts. I am very excited to engage in this opportunity, and learn what it's like to live in another culture!
Please leave me comments, and positive notes as I will be missing you!
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