Jan 14 & 15
Now that we have met the halfway mark of our trip, we begin to ask ourselves "what is this experience teaching us", "have our expectations been met", and "what have I learned about myself during our trip"? Every night after our morning and afternoon service placements we have a time for group reflections. Together we share our thoughts, emotions, and experiences from the day. Jerri works in the geriatric center and shared with us that her placement has made her think about the relationship she has with her own parents. "I need to think about where my own parents will end up". In addition we began to speak about our presence at our individual locations. Even though at times we have felt useless at our sites, there is this undeniable power of presence and just being there for those that usually do not have others around to care for them, speak to them, or just say I'm here for you. As Liz said it's what we say that is important "and using our words to uplift others and being patient with people" is how we can make a impact while we are here! We also spoke a bit about our reflections from our weekend away, and the power of working as a group. "I just can't believe I did it" is what Jerri said in regards to our climb of Waynapicchu. And Victor said "climbing mountains is not for the view of the top, it's for the journey, and the group effort". Each day I become more and more appreciative of the group and people that surround me on this journey. I know that this trip has and will impact us all differently but I'm so glad that each of us is open to sharing. As Zerina said, "serving in a group is totally different than serving individually, and to always remember to feel comfortable to ask for help". Well tomorrow is Wednesday and we have a lot more to do in the few days that we have left. Stay tuned!
AWB 2013 Peru
Written by: Courtnay Oddman
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Day 9: The Importance of Support, Inclusivity, and Working as a Group
Jan 13 2013
Our weekend adventure has sadly come to an end, and tomorrow we will return back to our volunteer placements. Though this past weekend may not have consisted of long hours of sleep and relaxation, and instead included a three hour long climb, we came back to Cusco feeling mentally rejuvenated and prepared for the week ahead of us. What we learned from this weekend, is the importance and the meaning of volunteering in a group and the effort that we put forth together as a unit is what makes the journey so memorable. If one of us is not feeling included, or one of us is feeling drained then that affects all of us. We must be there for one another in regards to support. Having someone to listen to your thoughts and feelings means a lot, especially when family and friends back at home or at school may not completely understand the occurrences that we have come across. Our trip at times, is physically and mentally exhausting. We have seen so many things here in Peru, that we may not see in our home countries, situations that may make us feel uncomfortable, but sometimes it is this discomfort that is necessary for an international community service trip. It is this discomfort that will remind us that poverty in other countries is a reality, one that people live in every day. Though we get to leave in a week, we will always remember how we felt, and hopefully those senior citizens and the children that we volunteer for will always remember how we made them feel, how we were able to brighten their day, and the caring words and stories that we shared with them.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written by: Courtnay Oddman
Our weekend adventure has sadly come to an end, and tomorrow we will return back to our volunteer placements. Though this past weekend may not have consisted of long hours of sleep and relaxation, and instead included a three hour long climb, we came back to Cusco feeling mentally rejuvenated and prepared for the week ahead of us. What we learned from this weekend, is the importance and the meaning of volunteering in a group and the effort that we put forth together as a unit is what makes the journey so memorable. If one of us is not feeling included, or one of us is feeling drained then that affects all of us. We must be there for one another in regards to support. Having someone to listen to your thoughts and feelings means a lot, especially when family and friends back at home or at school may not completely understand the occurrences that we have come across. Our trip at times, is physically and mentally exhausting. We have seen so many things here in Peru, that we may not see in our home countries, situations that may make us feel uncomfortable, but sometimes it is this discomfort that is necessary for an international community service trip. It is this discomfort that will remind us that poverty in other countries is a reality, one that people live in every day. Though we get to leave in a week, we will always remember how we felt, and hopefully those senior citizens and the children that we volunteer for will always remember how we made them feel, how we were able to brighten their day, and the caring words and stories that we shared with them.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written by: Courtnay Oddman
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Day 4: Here Goes!
Jan 8 2013
Day 4 will always be remembered as the first day on our own. Yesterday, Martina showed us how to get to our volunteer sites, either by bus, taxi, or foot, and later gave us a map to further guide us. But today, we did not have Martina, nor did we have our usual big group of 12. Instead today we were on our own. In groups of three, we each ventured off to our volunteer sites. Six of us (Liz, Diana, Victor, Amber, Ju, and myself) used Servicio Rapido to get to our sites (the girls and boys orphanage homes). We seemed to be the only foreigners that used the bus. It was a bit crowded and we quickly had to learn the 'bus etiquette' of Cusco. We listened out for our stop, and said "Baja" when we were ready to get off. Simpler than I had originally thought it would be, we found the girls' home and went inside for our first day of volunteering.
Many of us are volunteering with children; one group- children with disabilities, another group- children from low income parents or orphans. The other group works with the elderly. Each placement requires high energy. For those of us volunteering with children we had to remind ourselves of activities that we enjoyed at a young age, such as arts and crafts, dancing, and games. Though there may be a language barrier, we wanted to make sure we went in with a plan, seeing that our placements were unstructured, meaning they had no set curriculum or daily schedule for volunteers.
However, no matter what the age group, our purpose was not to just go to these sites to fill time but instead be useful and caring. By helping to brighten their lives in any way possible. Liz said later in our reflection period. "Usefulness is not always teaching someone a skill it can sometimes be a hand to hold." Though some of our sites have year-round volunteers, there are days that go by where some of these children or senior citizens don't have someone to talk to and the sad reality is that groups of volunteers, like ourselves, sadly have an end date, the day we have to leave.
How can we turn these 14 days of bringing joy and brightness into these people's lives into everyday happiness and how can we make sure that the people of Cusco always have their needs met? What is the government doing for these children that do not have basic necessities, or the elders who are left alone without medical attention or their families to care for them. Most importantly how can we leave a lasting impact on these people's lives?
With questions still yet to be answered, we look forward to our next week of volunteering.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
Day 4 will always be remembered as the first day on our own. Yesterday, Martina showed us how to get to our volunteer sites, either by bus, taxi, or foot, and later gave us a map to further guide us. But today, we did not have Martina, nor did we have our usual big group of 12. Instead today we were on our own. In groups of three, we each ventured off to our volunteer sites. Six of us (Liz, Diana, Victor, Amber, Ju, and myself) used Servicio Rapido to get to our sites (the girls and boys orphanage homes). We seemed to be the only foreigners that used the bus. It was a bit crowded and we quickly had to learn the 'bus etiquette' of Cusco. We listened out for our stop, and said "Baja" when we were ready to get off. Simpler than I had originally thought it would be, we found the girls' home and went inside for our first day of volunteering.
Many of us are volunteering with children; one group- children with disabilities, another group- children from low income parents or orphans. The other group works with the elderly. Each placement requires high energy. For those of us volunteering with children we had to remind ourselves of activities that we enjoyed at a young age, such as arts and crafts, dancing, and games. Though there may be a language barrier, we wanted to make sure we went in with a plan, seeing that our placements were unstructured, meaning they had no set curriculum or daily schedule for volunteers.
However, no matter what the age group, our purpose was not to just go to these sites to fill time but instead be useful and caring. By helping to brighten their lives in any way possible. Liz said later in our reflection period. "Usefulness is not always teaching someone a skill it can sometimes be a hand to hold." Though some of our sites have year-round volunteers, there are days that go by where some of these children or senior citizens don't have someone to talk to and the sad reality is that groups of volunteers, like ourselves, sadly have an end date, the day we have to leave.
How can we turn these 14 days of bringing joy and brightness into these people's lives into everyday happiness and how can we make sure that the people of Cusco always have their needs met? What is the government doing for these children that do not have basic necessities, or the elders who are left alone without medical attention or their families to care for them. Most importantly how can we leave a lasting impact on these people's lives?
With questions still yet to be answered, we look forward to our next week of volunteering.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
Day 8: The Climb of Waynapicchu and the Machupicchu Experience
Jan 12, 2013
With sore legs, wet clothes, sunburns, and the powerful sense of accomplishment, we look back on today and notice all that we had seen, done, and achieved. Others dream of, not only traveling to Peru, but to one day be able to stand in front of one of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. There in front of us was a serene beauty, that many only have the chance to see in pictures or postcards. We made it here, at 6:00am and together began our adventure. Our first mission, was to not only to get to Waynapicchu, but to also climb this 2693 metered mountain. An obstacle that seemed impossible to me, and one that I nearly backed out of would soon be a climb that I would not be able to turn back on. It's a climb that is hard to put into words. It's a climb that is filled with emotions, both fear and excitement. There we were, one in front of another, climbing up what some call the deadliest climb. Just ten minutes, after signing our name in at the Waynapicchu checkpoint we began to notice that this would be no simple task. It was a rainy and foggy morning, weather that did not help with the climb up. The rock steps became narrower, the climb became steeper, and the rope rail that we used to help climb soon disappeared. As a person that is afraid of heights, I don't know what I was thinking when I began, maybe it was because I didn't want to be the only one sitting out, or maybe it was because I didn't want to look back twenty or so years from now regretting that I didn't take this opportunity when I had the chance. But about thirty minutes into the climb I didn't think I was going to make it. I watched the few in front of me, seem to climb with ease, and looked behind me and saw the other participants also seeming to steadily be keeping up. But there I was breathing heavily, and beginning to panic. We made it to a flat path and what seemed to be the half way mark, and that's where I broke down. Partly due to my fear and sense of hopelessness, but it seemed to be more due to what was in front of me. There in front of us, through the fog, was this beautiful scene of mountains, nature, and an indicator of how far we had already come. The rest of the group came around me and tried to comfort and reassure me that I could make it. Thankful for the brief rest, but more importantly at that moment I was thankful for the people around me. Zerina and Liz continued to promise me that they would be right there for me. They'd tell me where to put my foot, and encourage me by saying "Don't worry Courtnay, you got this". With every step we came closer and closer to the peak. It soon became less of a high-adrenaline climb, and more of a self-challenge and a group effort. For me it turned into a spiritual experience, one that i'll never forget. It felt like I was being guided and supported, not only by those around me, but by a higher-being. Though it was different for each of us, our common element was the sense of victory that we each felt when we reached the top. We did it together, a moment that we will remember for the rest of our lives. We looked out and individually reflected on the experience that we had just embarked on. A weekend getaway that turned into a trip that bonded us, and built trust amongst us all. After snapping thousands of pictures, and taking in the scenery and fact that we had just climbed Waynapicch, we began the journey down. As Liz said, on the way down there's this feeling of exhilaration that takes over. Still my nerves came back, and I was still so appreciative of the ones that stayed around me and made jokes with me along the way to get my mind off of the fact that now that the fog had cleared, you could see all the way down, and notice how close you were to the cliff. nonetheless we kept on trekking. And when we finally made it down there was this instant feeling of achievement and pride. It's hard to put into words, but it was truly the most accomplished feeling I've felt; getting past a fear, not giving up, and continuing on together. We did it!
After our climb, we met with our tour guide and learned about the history of Machu Picchu, we were glad to get the education lesson because many of us had unanswered questions. In the early 1900s, Hiram Bingham, journeyed to Cusco and when traveling through the Sacred Valley of the Inkas met a farmer named Melchor Arteaga who gave Hiram information about the existence of ruins at the top of the Old Mountain (Machupicchu) and only received one sol for his tip.
"According to Smithsonian.com, most experts believe that Machu Picchu was constructed around AD 1400 as a royal estate for the Incan ruler Pachacútec. It was later abandoned during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu, sometimes called the Lost City, remained hidden for several centuries before it was rediscovered by Hiram..."
On our tour we visited Sector de Los Templos, learned about the Royal Tomb, Templo de las Tres Ventanas, Templo del Cóndor, Casa del Inka, the Depósitos (food storage), the fountains, and visited the Hitching Post of the Sun, "a carved rock that appears to be an ancient astronomical calendar".
By the end we were so tired all we wanted to do was eat and rest, and that's exactly what we did at the end of the day. An unforgettable experience, that we can't wait to individually share with our family and friends.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
With sore legs, wet clothes, sunburns, and the powerful sense of accomplishment, we look back on today and notice all that we had seen, done, and achieved. Others dream of, not only traveling to Peru, but to one day be able to stand in front of one of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. There in front of us was a serene beauty, that many only have the chance to see in pictures or postcards. We made it here, at 6:00am and together began our adventure. Our first mission, was to not only to get to Waynapicchu, but to also climb this 2693 metered mountain. An obstacle that seemed impossible to me, and one that I nearly backed out of would soon be a climb that I would not be able to turn back on. It's a climb that is hard to put into words. It's a climb that is filled with emotions, both fear and excitement. There we were, one in front of another, climbing up what some call the deadliest climb. Just ten minutes, after signing our name in at the Waynapicchu checkpoint we began to notice that this would be no simple task. It was a rainy and foggy morning, weather that did not help with the climb up. The rock steps became narrower, the climb became steeper, and the rope rail that we used to help climb soon disappeared. As a person that is afraid of heights, I don't know what I was thinking when I began, maybe it was because I didn't want to be the only one sitting out, or maybe it was because I didn't want to look back twenty or so years from now regretting that I didn't take this opportunity when I had the chance. But about thirty minutes into the climb I didn't think I was going to make it. I watched the few in front of me, seem to climb with ease, and looked behind me and saw the other participants also seeming to steadily be keeping up. But there I was breathing heavily, and beginning to panic. We made it to a flat path and what seemed to be the half way mark, and that's where I broke down. Partly due to my fear and sense of hopelessness, but it seemed to be more due to what was in front of me. There in front of us, through the fog, was this beautiful scene of mountains, nature, and an indicator of how far we had already come. The rest of the group came around me and tried to comfort and reassure me that I could make it. Thankful for the brief rest, but more importantly at that moment I was thankful for the people around me. Zerina and Liz continued to promise me that they would be right there for me. They'd tell me where to put my foot, and encourage me by saying "Don't worry Courtnay, you got this". With every step we came closer and closer to the peak. It soon became less of a high-adrenaline climb, and more of a self-challenge and a group effort. For me it turned into a spiritual experience, one that i'll never forget. It felt like I was being guided and supported, not only by those around me, but by a higher-being. Though it was different for each of us, our common element was the sense of victory that we each felt when we reached the top. We did it together, a moment that we will remember for the rest of our lives. We looked out and individually reflected on the experience that we had just embarked on. A weekend getaway that turned into a trip that bonded us, and built trust amongst us all. After snapping thousands of pictures, and taking in the scenery and fact that we had just climbed Waynapicch, we began the journey down. As Liz said, on the way down there's this feeling of exhilaration that takes over. Still my nerves came back, and I was still so appreciative of the ones that stayed around me and made jokes with me along the way to get my mind off of the fact that now that the fog had cleared, you could see all the way down, and notice how close you were to the cliff. nonetheless we kept on trekking. And when we finally made it down there was this instant feeling of achievement and pride. It's hard to put into words, but it was truly the most accomplished feeling I've felt; getting past a fear, not giving up, and continuing on together. We did it!
After our climb, we met with our tour guide and learned about the history of Machu Picchu, we were glad to get the education lesson because many of us had unanswered questions. In the early 1900s, Hiram Bingham, journeyed to Cusco and when traveling through the Sacred Valley of the Inkas met a farmer named Melchor Arteaga who gave Hiram information about the existence of ruins at the top of the Old Mountain (Machupicchu) and only received one sol for his tip.
"According to Smithsonian.com, most experts believe that Machu Picchu was constructed around AD 1400 as a royal estate for the Incan ruler Pachacútec. It was later abandoned during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu, sometimes called the Lost City, remained hidden for several centuries before it was rediscovered by Hiram..."
On our tour we visited Sector de Los Templos, learned about the Royal Tomb, Templo de las Tres Ventanas, Templo del Cóndor, Casa del Inka, the Depósitos (food storage), the fountains, and visited the Hitching Post of the Sun, "a carved rock that appears to be an ancient astronomical calendar".
By the end we were so tired all we wanted to do was eat and rest, and that's exactly what we did at the end of the day. An unforgettable experience, that we can't wait to individually share with our family and friends.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
Friday, January 11, 2013
Day 7: T.G.I.F
Jan 11, 2013
It's Friday in Cusco! We have completed our first week of volunteering and today we will be taking a bus to Ollantaytambo, and then taking Peru-Rail to Aguas Calientes, the base of Machu Picchu, and tomorrow we will be visiting Machu Picchu and climbing Waynapicchu! Our weekend getaway begins today! Below is a picture from inside of our train to Machu Picchu.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
It's Friday in Cusco! We have completed our first week of volunteering and today we will be taking a bus to Ollantaytambo, and then taking Peru-Rail to Aguas Calientes, the base of Machu Picchu, and tomorrow we will be visiting Machu Picchu and climbing Waynapicchu! Our weekend getaway begins today! Below is a picture from inside of our train to Machu Picchu.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
Day 6: Guiding Principles
Jan 10, 2013
I have come to notice, after our group discussions and by seeing the work of others that our group has endless potential. Each day we become more empowered and each day we gain a better understanding of the Peruvian culture. Our perspectives have been enriched in such a short period of time and our dedication to service has grown more and more each day. We have began to follow UBELONG's guiding principles;
-"Impact through sharing
-Seize the opportunity
-Cross-cultural dialogue
-Nurturing civic engagement and
-Learn from each other"
Each night we have group reflections, a time where we get together to share our thoughts from the day and how we are feeling as we go through this journey. This group has really been there for one another and I know that years from now we will always remember this experience and the people we shared it with.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
I have come to notice, after our group discussions and by seeing the work of others that our group has endless potential. Each day we become more empowered and each day we gain a better understanding of the Peruvian culture. Our perspectives have been enriched in such a short period of time and our dedication to service has grown more and more each day. We have began to follow UBELONG's guiding principles;
-"Impact through sharing
-Seize the opportunity
-Cross-cultural dialogue
-Nurturing civic engagement and
-Learn from each other"
Each night we have group reflections, a time where we get together to share our thoughts from the day and how we are feeling as we go through this journey. This group has really been there for one another and I know that years from now we will always remember this experience and the people we shared it with.
AWB 2013 Peru
Written By: Courtnay Oddman
Day 5: Understanding Peru's Economy
Jan 9, 2013
In 2009, Peru's population was below the national poverty line at 53%, and in 2012 UBELONG cites that the poverty level has steadily reduced and is now around 35%. Peru has sustained economic growth and the Total GDP in 2010 was $275 billion US. Government spending on education has risen in recent years, however public education standards in Peru remain extremely low. The past President, Alberto Fujimori, was convicted due to corruption crimes. Here in Peru, drug trafficking is a serious national problem, as Peru is the world's second largest cocaine producer right after Colombia. Cusco, though surrounded by the immaculate Plaza de Armas and is a well visited tourist city, it is one of the poorest provinces in Peru, and here the majority of residents live under the poverty line. "Abuse, illiteracy, and neglect are common, and early childhood malnutrition affects over a quarter of the children in Cusco, most of who arrive from poverty-stricken Quechua communities".
AWB 2013 Peru
Written by: Courtnay Oddman
In 2009, Peru's population was below the national poverty line at 53%, and in 2012 UBELONG cites that the poverty level has steadily reduced and is now around 35%. Peru has sustained economic growth and the Total GDP in 2010 was $275 billion US. Government spending on education has risen in recent years, however public education standards in Peru remain extremely low. The past President, Alberto Fujimori, was convicted due to corruption crimes. Here in Peru, drug trafficking is a serious national problem, as Peru is the world's second largest cocaine producer right after Colombia. Cusco, though surrounded by the immaculate Plaza de Armas and is a well visited tourist city, it is one of the poorest provinces in Peru, and here the majority of residents live under the poverty line. "Abuse, illiteracy, and neglect are common, and early childhood malnutrition affects over a quarter of the children in Cusco, most of who arrive from poverty-stricken Quechua communities".
AWB 2013 Peru
Written by: Courtnay Oddman
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