Vacation, COS, and Latrines
Once again I have neglected my blog duties - my apologizies! A lot has happened since my last entry - most notibly a long vacation with my dad and brother, my Close of Service conference, and the completion of the latrine project.
Vacation with Dad and Cody was busy but fun. We spent a couple days in Jocos exploring and meeting people (at least they did - I acted as their guide). We hiked to Shocorco one of those days and, as usual, the pople there went all out. Lunch, poems and songs from the students (including Happy Birthday to Dad as it was his birthday that day), and a tour of the latrine project. I think both Dad and Cody felt very welcomed and honored.
From Jocos, we headed to Cuzc and Machupicchu. While at first sight, Machupicchu seemed much smaller than pictures would lead one to believe, once we got down in it and started exploring, we all realized how big it actually is. During out time in Cuzco we stayed in Ollyantaytambo - a small town with a Machupicchu train stop. What a great place! Full of history, ruins, and tourists. We stayed at a great place called The Albergue actually inside the train station. Great people, a great location, and great food! While there, we visited the Inca Concentric Terraces and salt pans. For those of you who know me, you can probably imagine I was far more excited by the salt pans than the Concentric Terraces! Fueled by a salt water spring, the pans are situated on a small mountain. As the spring runs down to the river below, it runs through the pans filling them with salt water. As the water evaporates, the salt stays behind. All 1,000 pans are tended by hand - the salt collected, packed, and sold in the area. Due to impurities in the grains, the salt has a slight pink color and a very mild flavor. Needless to say I was fascinated! The Concentric Terraces are said to the the agro-laboratory of the Incas. Each level is said to have its own micro-climate.
From Cuzco we were off to Puno and Lake Titicaca. What can I say about Lake Titicaca? Well, its a very big lake. And very high at 13,000 feet! We took a day tour to the floating island of Uri and the real island of Taquille. The floting islands (made of reeds) were interesting but a huge tourist trap. The island of Taquille was also touristy, but in a far less obvious way. Regardless, it was well worth the day long trip!
After Lake Titicaca, Cody left for home and Dad and I continued on to Arequipa. What a great city! If I were to live in Peru again, I would live there! Though I can`t say Dad and I did much more than eat and shop. Impossible to resist all the aplaca clothing and good food!
Then it was back to Lima for a couple of days before Dad flew home.
It was so very important to me to have my family visit (Mom came down in April 2005) see Jocos; for my family to experience a little of my lifere here. I didn`t want these 2 years of my life to be a mystery to them - I wanted them to have a real connectin to the people here, to the way I live here. Their visits moved this experience outside my circle of Peace Corps friends and to Home.
The Close of Service (COS) Conference is a farewell meeting of sorts for the vlunteers completing their 2 years. The meeting themselves were anticlimatic - consisting mainly of talk of resumes, future jobs, grad school, re-entry to American life, and final paperwork. But it was the first time since we swore-in as volunteers that the entire Group 4 had been together. I had seen all but one volunteer during the past 2 years, but it was interesting to see how people had changed, how they had stayed the same. It was the last time most of us will see eacho other and I kept my good-byes short. I wish everyone the very best, but the fact is I have kept in touch with a handful of volunteers I`ve formed bonds with and these will be the people I keep in touch with after Peace Corps. Peace Corps has definitely taught me how to say good-bye to people - when tears are warrented, when a hearty handshake is in order.
My return to Jocos was hastened by the inagruation of the latrines in Shocorco. It was a simple and, for me, emotional ceremony. To have completed such a project with such a group of people is an accomplishment mentally, emotionally, and physically. I will carry the people of Shocorco and their latrines in my heart forever.
Vacation with Dad and Cody was busy but fun. We spent a couple days in Jocos exploring and meeting people (at least they did - I acted as their guide). We hiked to Shocorco one of those days and, as usual, the pople there went all out. Lunch, poems and songs from the students (including Happy Birthday to Dad as it was his birthday that day), and a tour of the latrine project. I think both Dad and Cody felt very welcomed and honored.
From Jocos, we headed to Cuzc and Machupicchu. While at first sight, Machupicchu seemed much smaller than pictures would lead one to believe, once we got down in it and started exploring, we all realized how big it actually is. During out time in Cuzco we stayed in Ollyantaytambo - a small town with a Machupicchu train stop. What a great place! Full of history, ruins, and tourists. We stayed at a great place called The Albergue actually inside the train station. Great people, a great location, and great food! While there, we visited the Inca Concentric Terraces and salt pans. For those of you who know me, you can probably imagine I was far more excited by the salt pans than the Concentric Terraces! Fueled by a salt water spring, the pans are situated on a small mountain. As the spring runs down to the river below, it runs through the pans filling them with salt water. As the water evaporates, the salt stays behind. All 1,000 pans are tended by hand - the salt collected, packed, and sold in the area. Due to impurities in the grains, the salt has a slight pink color and a very mild flavor. Needless to say I was fascinated! The Concentric Terraces are said to the the agro-laboratory of the Incas. Each level is said to have its own micro-climate.
From Cuzco we were off to Puno and Lake Titicaca. What can I say about Lake Titicaca? Well, its a very big lake. And very high at 13,000 feet! We took a day tour to the floating island of Uri and the real island of Taquille. The floting islands (made of reeds) were interesting but a huge tourist trap. The island of Taquille was also touristy, but in a far less obvious way. Regardless, it was well worth the day long trip!
After Lake Titicaca, Cody left for home and Dad and I continued on to Arequipa. What a great city! If I were to live in Peru again, I would live there! Though I can`t say Dad and I did much more than eat and shop. Impossible to resist all the aplaca clothing and good food!
Then it was back to Lima for a couple of days before Dad flew home.
It was so very important to me to have my family visit (Mom came down in April 2005) see Jocos; for my family to experience a little of my lifere here. I didn`t want these 2 years of my life to be a mystery to them - I wanted them to have a real connectin to the people here, to the way I live here. Their visits moved this experience outside my circle of Peace Corps friends and to Home.
The Close of Service (COS) Conference is a farewell meeting of sorts for the vlunteers completing their 2 years. The meeting themselves were anticlimatic - consisting mainly of talk of resumes, future jobs, grad school, re-entry to American life, and final paperwork. But it was the first time since we swore-in as volunteers that the entire Group 4 had been together. I had seen all but one volunteer during the past 2 years, but it was interesting to see how people had changed, how they had stayed the same. It was the last time most of us will see eacho other and I kept my good-byes short. I wish everyone the very best, but the fact is I have kept in touch with a handful of volunteers I`ve formed bonds with and these will be the people I keep in touch with after Peace Corps. Peace Corps has definitely taught me how to say good-bye to people - when tears are warrented, when a hearty handshake is in order.
My return to Jocos was hastened by the inagruation of the latrines in Shocorco. It was a simple and, for me, emotional ceremony. To have completed such a project with such a group of people is an accomplishment mentally, emotionally, and physically. I will carry the people of Shocorco and their latrines in my heart forever.
posted by Kellie | 12:42 PM
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